Latest news with #eco-tourism
Associated Press
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Filipino forces and villagers struggle to live in China's shadow in disputed waters
WEST YORK ISLAND, South China Sea (AP) — Overwhelmed after setting foot for the first time on a far-flung but picturesque island in the disputed South China Sea, a Filipino army official knelt to kiss the shore. She held a small Philippine flag that fluttered in the breeze. 'This is just so beautiful,' Philippines military spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said of West York Island, one of nine islands, reefs and atolls occupied by Filipino forces in the long-contested waters. 'This solidifies our resolve to fight for this place whatever happens.' The 18.6-hectare (46-acre) droplet-shaped island, called Likas by Filipinos, could easily become an eco-tourism draw in tropical Asia with its powdery white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and giant sea turtle sanctuaries. Padilla expressed hope it could someday be opened to Filipino travelers and tourists from across the world. But that longstanding aspiration by Philippine officials has been stymied by a tangle of territorial conflicts involving a militarily superior China. Beijing claims virtually the entire South China Sea, a vital global trade route with rich undersea deposits of gas and oil. It has increasingly flexed its military might, including its navy — the largest in the world — to strengthen its grip on a strategic waterway it says it has owned since ancient times. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan contest China's expansive claims with their own, and the territorial stand-offs have increasingly flared into cat-and-mouse confrontations at sea in recent years. The long-simmering disputes are also a delicate fault line in the regional rivalry between Beijing and Washington. Both former President Joe Biden and his successor, Donald Trump, have condemned China's growing aggression in the contested waters, including its coast guard's use of powerful water cannons, blinding military-grade lasers and dangerous sea maneuvers against the coast guard and navy of the Philippines, Washington's oldest treaty ally in Asia. Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office in mid-2022, the Philippines has intensified a campaign to expose China's increasingly assertive actions by capturing them in video and photographs. The images have then been made public in the hope that international pressure would prompt Beijing to back down to avoid damage to its reputation. The Philippine military invited a small group of journalists, including two from The Associated Press, in a dayslong naval patrol of the South China Sea territories claimed by Manila and on visits to navy and marine forces deployed to guard them. During the patrol, which ended over the weekend, the BRP Andres Bonifacio navy ship carrying the journalists warned a number of Chinese coast guard ships and suspected Chinese militia vessels by two-way radio to move away from Philippines-claimed waters. The Chinese ships responded by asserting their sovereignty in the offshore region without undertaking any provocative actions. On West York Island, two Filipino marines in camouflage uniforms stood guard with M4 assault rifles under a Philippine flag. One used binoculars to scan the surrounding waters for Chinese or Vietnamese ships passing by from a distance. One of the farthest islands in the disputed waters from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan, West York is a difficult and risky post, where Filipino forces see nothing beyond the small island but sea. Military personnel can occasionally call their loved ones during their two-month deployment, but the internet connection is spotty, especially during the typhoon season that starts in June, according to military personnel on the island. They grow eggplants, okra and chili peppers and raise goats and chickens to augment food provisions delivered by navy ships from Palawan. There is a makeshift basketball court to help while away off-duty time and ease the feeling of isolation. 'It's being away from your family,' Padilla said. 'At the end of the day, you go home to an empty room.' Marine Col. Joel Bonavente, who was among the visiting military officials, told AP that military personnel posted in the remote outpost get additional pay to compensate for the 'hazard and loneliness.' On Thitu, the largest Philippines-claimed island, which lies west of West York, civilians have thrived for decades in a small fishing village alongside the military forces. An AP journalist who visited Thitu several years ago saw an island with only a few low-slung wooden and concrete buildings and a gravel airstrip that was being eroded by the constant pounding of waves. There were a few shanties mainlanders had moved to from Palawan in exchange for a monthly government provision of groceries, rice and cash in a bid to grow a civilian community. Dramatic infrastructure improvements have occurred through the years on the 37.2-hectare (92-acre) island, which now has a concrete runway, a huge aircraft hangar, a wharf, a storm shelter and concrete roads running through the fishing village, military encampments and a three-story coast guard surveillance center. A high school building is nearly finished near a seawater desalination facility. 'I want to stay on this island because my blood pressure remains stable without the wide selection of fatty food you find in the city like hamburgers,' said Nenita Bania, a 59-year-old villager who has lived with her husband on Thitu for 12 years. 'Lonely? Not really. It's not the case if you're with family,' she told the AP aboard an air force C-130 aircraft, as she and other villagers hitched a ride back to Thitu from Palawan province. Living in China's shadow in the disputed waters, however, has been challenging, said Larry Hugo, 47, who leads a group of at least 114 fishermen. More than a decade ago, China transformed seven disputed South China Sea reefs into island bases, where Chinese coast guard and navy ships can now refuel and obtain supplies for longer periods far from the Chinese mainland. One of China's artificial islands, Subi, has a military-grade runway and lies just 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Thitu. 'There were no Chinese ships before but now it's a big problem because they are all around our island,' Hugo said. 'They're guarding the reefs where we used to fish, and they block us so we can't venture far.' 'It's very dangerous,' he said. 'We have small boats and we may be run over and that'll be a big problem because we're far from civilization.'
The Independent
15 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Filipino forces and villagers struggle to live in China's shadow in disputed waters
Overwhelmed after setting foot for the first time on a far-flung but picturesque island in the disputed South China Sea, a Filipino army official knelt to kiss the shore. She held a small Philippine flag that fluttered in the breeze. 'This is just so beautiful,' Philippines military spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said of West York Island, one of nine islands, reefs and atolls occupied by Filipino forces in the long-contested waters. 'This solidifies our resolve to fight for this place whatever happens.' The 18.6-hectare (46-acre) droplet-shaped island, called Likas by Filipinos, could easily become an eco-tourism draw in tropical Asia with its powdery white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and giant sea turtle sanctuaries. Padilla expressed hope it could someday be opened to Filipino travelers and tourists from across the world. But that longstanding aspiration by Philippine officials has been stymied by a tangle of territorial conflicts involving a militarily superior China. Beijing claims virtually the entire South China Sea, a vital global trade route with rich undersea deposits of gas and oil. It has increasingly flexed its military might, including its navy — the largest in the world — to strengthen its grip on a strategic waterway it says it has owned since ancient times. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan contest China's expansive claims with their own, and the territorial stand-offs have increasingly flared into cat-and-mouse confrontations at sea in recent years. The long-simmering disputes are also a delicate fault line in the regional rivalry between Beijing and Washington. Both former President Joe Biden and his successor, Donald Trump, have condemned China's growing aggression in the contested waters, including its coast guard's use of powerful water cannons, blinding military-grade lasers and dangerous sea maneuvers against the coast guard and navy of the Philippines, Washington's oldest treaty ally in Asia. Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office in mid-2022, the Philippines has intensified a campaign to expose China's increasingly assertive actions by capturing them in video and photographs. The images have then been made public in the hope that international pressure would prompt Beijing to back down to avoid damage to its reputation. The Philippine military invited a small group of journalists, including two from The Associated Press, in a dayslong naval patrol of the South China Sea territories claimed by Manila and on visits to navy and marine forces deployed to guard them. During the patrol, which ended over the weekend, the BRP Andres Bonifacio navy ship carrying the journalists warned a number of Chinese coast guard ships and suspected Chinese militia vessels by two-way radio to move away from Philippines-claimed waters. The Chinese ships responded by asserting their sovereignty in the offshore region without undertaking any provocative actions. On West York Island, two Filipino marines in camouflage uniforms stood guard with M4 assault rifles under a Philippine flag. One used binoculars to scan the surrounding waters for Chinese or Vietnamese ships passing by from a distance. One of the farthest islands in the disputed waters from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan, West York is a difficult and risky post, where Filipino forces see nothing beyond the small island but sea. Military personnel can occasionally call their loved ones during their two-month deployment, but the internet connection is spotty, especially during the typhoon season that starts in June, according to military personnel on the island. They grow eggplants, okra and chili peppers and raise goats and chickens to augment food provisions delivered by navy ships from Palawan. There is a makeshift basketball court to help while away off-duty time and ease the feeling of isolation. 'It's being away from your family,' Padilla said. 'At the end of the day, you go home to an empty room.' Marine Col. Joel Bonavente, who was among the visiting military officials, told AP that military personnel posted in the remote outpost get additional pay to compensate for the "hazard and loneliness.' On Thitu, the largest Philippines-claimed island, which lies west of West York, civilians have thrived for decades in a small fishing village alongside the military forces. An AP journalist who visited Thitu several years ago saw an island with only a few low-slung wooden and concrete buildings and a gravel airstrip that was being eroded by the constant pounding of waves. There were a few shanties mainlanders had moved to from Palawan in exchange for a monthly government provision of groceries, rice and cash in a bid to grow a civilian community. Dramatic infrastructure improvements have occurred through the years on the 37.2-hectare (92-acre) island, which now has a concrete runway, a huge aircraft hangar, a wharf, a storm shelter and concrete roads running through the fishing village, military encampments and a three-story coast guard surveillance center. A high school building is nearly finished near a seawater desalination facility. 'I want to stay on this island because my blood pressure remains stable without the wide selection of fatty food you find in the city like hamburgers,' said Nenita Bania, a 59-year-old villager who has lived with her husband on Thitu for 12 years. 'Lonely? Not really. It's not the case if you're with family,' she told the AP aboard an air force C-130 aircraft, as she and other villagers hitched a ride back to Thitu from Palawan province. Living in China's shadow in the disputed waters, however, has been challenging, said Larry Hugo, 47, who leads a group of at least 114 fishermen. More than a decade ago, China transformed seven disputed South China Sea reefs into island bases, where Chinese coast guard and navy ships can now refuel and obtain supplies for longer periods far from the Chinese mainland. One of China's artificial islands, Subi, has a military-grade runway and lies just 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Thitu. 'There were no Chinese ships before but now it's a big problem because they are all around our island,' Hugo said. 'They're guarding the reefs where we used to fish, and they block us so we can't venture far.' 'It's very dangerous,' he said. 'We have small boats and we may be run over and that'll be a big problem because we're far from civilization.'
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Three Major Trends Are Shaping This Summer Travel Season
Staycations are predicted to be a popular form of summer travel. Like design and fashion, summer travel trends come and go. In the 1990s, summer travel trends often focused on family vacations, amusement parks and road trips. The 1990s saw a resurgence in family vacations, with many families opting for long trips to beaches, national parks and other destinations. The focus was often on creating lasting memories together. In the 2000s, summer travel trends included adventure and experiential travel, a rise in budget airlines and the growing popularity of eco-tourism. In the 2010s, summer travel trends shifted towards experiences, digital nomadism and solo travel. This year it's all about flavor, fandom and nearby getaways, with travelers chasing culinary gems, concerts and coastlines like never before, while embracing bold new ways to vacation, according to an Airbnb Summer 2025 Travel Trends Report. This summer, travelers are swapping culinary capitals for more local, affordable foodie destinations like Rotterdam over Paris, and Alassio over Positano. Fandom travel has fueled the rise of "star chasers," or guests willing to travel great distances to see their favorite artists and athletes perform. Also, Americans are embracing spontaneous staycations. Guests from the US, Brazil, Spain, and Greece are seeking domestic escapes this summer, while those in the Netherlands and Belgium are seeking adventures abroad. From off the beaten path culinary enclaves, to star-chasing events and last-minute staycations, these are the trends shaping summer travel. Foodies are expected to make up a sizeable portion of summer travel. Travelers are avoiding the summer crowds and swapping culinary capitals for more local, affordable foodie destinations like Rotterdam over Paris, and Alassio over Positano. A recent consumer poll conducted by Panterra reveals that nearly half (47%) of travelers are prioritizing authentic local cuisine as their top food and beverage experience. For foodies looking to discover the next 'it' dining destinations, the report highlights these top trending spots this summer: Sports fans will travel near and far for their favorite teams. According to Panterra's consumer survey, concerts are the second biggest reason people are hitting the road this summer, following family reunions, especially for Gen Z women. According to Airbnb, searches have spiked over 500% in cities like Houston and Manchester, England. About a quarter of participants anticipate traveling more for big events in the next year than they have previously, especially those in Brazil (45%), Mexico (38%), and the US (32%). Travelers can choose from a wide array of Airbnb properties. Data reveals that Americans are embracing staycations over international travel, with more searches for trips within 300 miles of guests' homes. For travelers looking for nearby, spontaneous adventures, Airbnb's summer report also shares the top trending domestic destinations among US guests this summer, with unique stays ranging from cozy cabins to beach house retreats.
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Forbes
You Can Go On An African-esque Safari Looking For Jaguars In This Remote Region Of Brazil
Sunset on safari in Brazil's Pantanal. The safari vehicle pushes through the bushes on a barely visible four-wheel drive road, the vegetation shooting up over the top of the vehicle on either side. Last summer, a series of fires broke out in this area—more than 700 individual fires in the month of June alone—burning thousands of acres and killing untold animals. Looking at the dense terrain, I find it amazing that, in just about six months, the forest had recovered so significantly; a first-time visitor like myself might even be tempted to say it had recovered completely. The only remaining signs of the fires are the burnt trunks of certain trees, but they are usually blocked from sight by the new-growth vegetation, which has already reached overhead heights. A jaguar and her cub hide in the bush in Brazil's Pantanal. Can you spot them in the photo? This area is known as the Pantanal, and it is considered to be one of the largest wetland regions in the world. It's mostly located in Brazil, where I am now, with small segments belonging to Paraguay and Bolivia. It was traditionally a cattle ranching region and still mostly is today. However, the Pantanal is also a growing eco-tourism region, with several ranches offering African-esque safari experiences. The main prize? Wild jaguars. When the vehicle comes to a halt, we are fully under the canopy of trees. The guide begins pointing to something in the bush, right at the base of the tree trunk. It's not until I pull out my binoculars that I can see the female jaguar sprawled out—and her cub just beside her. Moments like these, and others—the Pantanal is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including its own 'Big 5'—are beginning to put this place on the world tourism map. But none of it would be possible if a big cultural shift hadn't taken place. Not too long ago, here in the remote interior of Brazil, jaguars were a different kind of prize. Jaguars and ranchers have traditionally clashed due to the former's impact on cattle ranching. Now, safari experiences in the Pantanal are putting a new spin on the relationship. As the sun moved directly overhead and the day grew hot, we huddled up under some trees for shade. My guide, Louisa, pulls a thermos from her pack and begins pouring water into a tall, cylindrical cup filled with erva-mate leaves, or mate. She lets it steep briefly, places a metal straw with a filter inside, and passes the cup. 'The first [cup] is always the strongest,' she said. In other parts of South America, like Aregentina, mate is drunk as a hot tea. But here in the Pantanal, where the temperature is often close to or above 100, it's much better as a cold refreshment. Referred to locally as tereré, Louisa explains how what we're doing is a social event of sorts here in the Pantanal, where multiple people share a thermos of cold water, relaxing in the shade on a hot day, taking turns with the cup, the tea getting progressively weaker with each refill. When it's my turn, I sip it down. It's a small amount, maybe a few ounces, enough to wet your whistle. It's cold and refreshing, and for a few moments, the heat of the day subsides, and we all feel refreshed. As we share the mate, other guides join in on the circle. One of them begins telling this really sad story, about how when he was younger, he was hired to kill the jaguars. Amongst he and other hunters, knowing the number of jaguars you had killed was a point of pride, and competition. Then, one day, something changed. After killing a jaguar, he bent down to collect the body, and in that moment, touching the pelt, he saw for the first time—for whatever reason—how beautiful the animal was, and how tragic its death. He was overcome with regret and decided to change his ways. Flash forward a decade or two and he is now a wildlife guide, drinking mate with us under the trees. Luiza tells us later that this story is common here in the Pantanal. Not too long ago, jaguars were enemy number one in this area. It all sounds similar to the battle between ranchers and wolves in North America. The ranchers don't like the jaguars because they sometimes kill the cattle. But this age-old battle has taken a turn, thanks in part—or maybe in full—to tourism. The financial potential of visitors coming to see the jaguars gives ranch owners a reason to let them live. Today, there is a whole generation of wildlife advocates, including ranch owners and safari guides, who are working to protect the jaguars. The Caiman Lodge in Brazil's Pantanal offers an African-like safari experience. Thus far, the way tourism is designed in the Pantanal is very similar to what you find on a classic African safari. Remote lodging in natural areas, daily game drives, and a sense that you're completely away from it all. Caiman Ranch Owner Roberto Klabin said that tourism in the Pantanal has been inspired by what has happened in Africa, citing the benefits of wildlife tourism, including reduced poaching and future economic interest in maintaining a healthy, thriving animal population. While many game drives in Africa take place on public land (such as within the national parks), most tourism in the Pantanal is happening on private land. And most of them are still ranching and raising cattle simualtaneously—they've just added in the tourism component. Brazil's Pantanal is one of the largest wetland regions in the world and home to a variety of wildlife, big and small. Klabin's Caiman Lodge, for example, is still raising thousands of heads of cattle per year. Right now, ranching still pays the bills, but there's hope that will change as the region grows, and then the footprint of cattle ranching can be reduced, he said. The daily rhythms of the day and the experiences are set up the same way as in Africa, although that's due more to animal behavior than far-away admiration. The morning game drive takes place during sunrise, and the afternoon game drive during sunset, the times of day when the animals are most active. In between, one hangs at the lodge during the heat of the day, enjoying whatever amenities there may be. At Casa Caiman, those options include a pool, gym, scenic sitting areas, and, of course, food and drink. PANTANAL, BRAZIL - 2024/09/24: A Red-and-green macaw or green-winged macaw is flying at the Buraco das Araras (Macaws Sinkhole), near Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images) Like Africa, the Pantanal has created its own 'Big 5'—that is, a (subjective) list of the five flagship animals that one can see in the area: The jaguar, the giant anteater, the marsh deer, the tapir, and the world's largest rodent, the capybara. But interesting wildlife goes beyond the Big 5. Two of the most beautiful birds I have ever seen—the toucan and the red and green macaw—call the Pantanal home, as do the many caimans, foxes, and rheas that you'll see on game drives. Because this biome is special (one of the world's largest wetlands) and in this point of transition, there are many animal organizations doing research in the Pantanal, and some offer tourism opportunities. For example, Caiman Lodge partners with multiple organizations: Onçafari (jaguars), the Hyacinth Macaw Institute, the Tamanduá Institute (giant anteaters), the Tapirapé Project (tapirs), and more. Each organization offers guests a chance for a ride-along to learn more about their conservation work as part of the ecotourism experience. Located in the deep interior of Brazil, the Pantanal takes several days to reach from North America. The Pantanal is extremely remote, and accessing it is half the battle and quite the journey. From the United States, one must first fly to Sao Paolo, Brazil, and then catch a domestic flight to Campo Grande. From there, it will depend on exactly where you are going, but it's more or less a three-hour shuttle ride to reach the Pantanal. If you can somehow manage to accomplish this all in one day, I tip my cap. But most likely, an overnight stopover will be necessary, or at the very least, an overnight flight. Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world, home to many amazing natural biomes. The Amazon has long been a wonder of the world. Perhaps someday the Pantanal will be seen as one too.
Zawya
29-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Eco-tourism in Oman: Vital resource shaped by nature, location
MUSCAT -- Oman is stepping up its efforts to carve out a prominent place on the global tourism map--particularly in the realm of eco-tourism--by capitalizing on its diverse natural landscapes and strategic location at the crossroads of land and sea. With a unique blend of deserts, mountains, valleys, coastal islands, and a rich marine ecosystem, the Sultanate is home to a remarkable variety of flora and fauna. This natural wealth has become central to Oman's broader vision for sustainable development and economic diversification. Under the Oman Tourism Strategy 2040, the government has outlined a clear commitment to accelerating tourism growth through sustainable practices and maximizing the country's natural and cultural assets. Tourism contributed 2.4 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023 and recorded a sharp 36.7 percent increase in incoming tourists. Authorities expect this momentum to continue, driven by targeted promotional campaigns. Eco-tourism has become a central focus in the national strategy--not only to elevate Oman's status as a regional and global tourism hub but also to reduce dependence on oil revenues and boost government income through diversified sources. Oman is investing in the preservation of its nature reserves, educating the public on conservation, and encouraging responsible tourism. These goals are closely aligned with the country's environmental policy framework, which seeks to balance economic growth with the protection of resources for future generations. So far, the Sultanate has designated 26 sites as official nature reserves, ranging from the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary and Al-Saleel National Park to the Daymaniyat Islands and the rocky landscapes of Jebel Samhan. Dozens more are under review, with nine sites nearing official recognition. In a major step forward, Oman announced in May the signing of nine environmental investment agreements across seven nature reserves. These projects aim to strengthen sustainable tourism, protect biodiversity, and support environmental education--all within the framework of a long-term green economic vision that targets net-zero emissions by 2050. Oman's natural offerings are as varied as they are breathtaking. From the fjords of Musandam, a top diving destination, to the coastal beauty of Muscat's beaches, the mountain springs of the Green Mountain, and the ancient water channels of the interior region. Meanwhile, Southern Dhofar stands out with its white-sand beaches, mountains, expansive valleys, desert landscapes, freshwater springs, and intricate cave systems--making it a top choice for eco-tourism enthusiasts.
