Tourism News Flash - News from Incredible India!

IIPT Award Winner Jamie Andrew
Sets New Challenge: Titanium Man Event

Stowe Vermont (3 August 2007) Quadruple Amputee Super Athlete and Mountain Climber Jamie Andrew will set out tomorrow morning, August 4th at 06:00 AM for the biggest challenge of his lifetime – his self named: “Titanium Man” Event.
Jamie Andrew	Jamie will set out to do an “Iron Man Triathlon” length event that includes a non-stop 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle, and 26.2 mile run. “This is one of the most grueling feats of athletic endurance, even for able-bodied athletes” says Jamie, “and for me as a quadruple amputee this looks set to be my biggest challenge yet!” IIPT Founder and President Louis D’Amore stated, “IIPT is proud to support Jamie in this, the greatest challenge he has set for himself to date. As with other significant challenges Jamie has undertaken – it is being done for a most worthy cause – to raise funds that will provide prosthetic limbs to men women and children in deprived parts of the world who lose arms and legs each year due to war, landmines, disease and poverty. “
Why the name “Titanium Man Event?” Jamie explains: “Iron Man is a registered trade mark, so instead this is Titanium Man, named after the high performance metal of which my prosthetic leg components are made. This looks set to be my biggest challenge yet. In order to complete my Titanium Man Challenge, I need your help! I need your sponsorship!” More details are available at www.titaniumman.co.uk and www.500miles.co.uk. To support and sponsor Jamie’s bold challenge that will contribute to improving the lives of amputees in deprived areas of the world, Please click here. Jamie received the IIPT Achievement Award, together with other members of his climbing team at the 2nd Global Summit on Peace through Tourism held in Geneva 2002. Together with two climbers from India, two climbers from Pakistan, and two climbers from sponsoring organizations UIAA and IUCN, the team climbed several peaks in the Swiss Alps, notably the Monch (4099m). The purpose of the IUCN/UIAA supported climb was to underline the importance of protecting mountain environments and to highlight the success of the Swiss Government in achieving UNESCO natural World Heritage status for the Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn region. The climb also promoted the creation of trans-boundary protected areas, in particular the Siachen Glacier between India and Pakistan, the scene of the longest running military conflict in the world. This was the first time the flags of India and Pakistan had flown together on a mountain summit. Jamie Andrew is from Edinburgh, Scotland who with close friend Jamie Fisher was one of a young generation of British alpine climbers attempting difficult climbs in the greater ranges. In February 1999 both climbers were caught in a ferocious storm near the summit of Les Droites in the Mont Blanc Range. Tragically Jamie Fisher did not survive the 5 nights the climbers were trapped and Jamie Andrew suffered severe frostbite which resulted in the amputation of both hands and both feet. Jamie made an inspirational recovery from his injuries and within 18 months of his accident, and using custom built artificial legs and walking sticks, he climbed Ben Nevis to raise funds for charity. He has also made a return to ski-ing and ice climbing. In March this year Jamie ran the London Marathon raising funds for charity and in May he took part in an international rock climbing meet with the theme of overcoming barriers to participation. About International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) IIPT is dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, the preservation of heritage, and poverty reduction, and through these initiatives, help bring about a more peaceful and sustainable world. IIPT’s mission is to mobilize travel and tourism, the world’s largest industry, as the world’s first ‘Global Peace Industry,’ an industry that promotes and supports the belief that ‘Every traveler is potentially an Ambassador for Peace.’
For more information on IIPT please visit: www.iipt.org; Tel: 802 253.2658; Fax: 802 253.2645; Email: info @iipt.org Media Contact: Karen Hoffman, The Bradford Group. Tel: 212 447.0027; Email: iiptmedia@aol.com

PRESS RELEASE
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First Africa Media Exchange to be Featured at 4th IIPT African Conference on Peace Through Tourism Kampala, Uganda, 20-25 May 2007

(26 January 2007, Stowe, Vermont, USA) -- Counterpart International has agreed to partner with the International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT) to organize the first ever Africa Media Exchange (A-MEx) as part of the 4th IIPT African Conference on Peace through Tourism. The Media Exchange will bring together notable journalists from Africa, Europe and North America with the aim of creating increased media coverage and international awareness of Africa’s rich mosaic of sustainable tourism initiatives and products.

The 4th IIPT African Conference, under the patronage of His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President, Republic of Uganda, is being organized in partnership with the Africa Travel Association, and hosted by the Uganda Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry.

“Tourism, which represents the greatest voluntary transfer of wealth in the history of humankind, benefits communities which host tourists,” says Lelei LeLaulu, President of Counterpart International. “Travelers to Africa can make a huge difference in the quality of life of the people and communities they visit. We look forward to collaborating with IIPT in the organization of the First Africa Media Exchange.”

The first Africa Media Exchange builds on the success of the Caribbean Media Exchange (CMEx) which began with the inspiration of Counterpart International to improve the quality of media coverage of sustainable tourism in the Caribbean. Newspaper articles, radio shows, television features, coral reef restoration initiatives, public-private sector collaboration and other international partnerships are some of the outcomes resulting from CMEx since it was launched in Jamaica in October 2001.

IIPT Founder and President, Louis D’Amore said, “We are proud to have Counterpart International partner with us in this first ever Africa Media Exchange. We will benefit not only from their experiences with Media Exchanges in the Caribbean, but as well their experience on five continents in providing options and access to tools for sustained social, economic and environmental development.”

Conference Theme
Theme of the Conference is “Building Strategic Alliances for Sustainable Tourism Development, Peace and Reconciliation on the African Continent.” Its goals are to broaden awareness of the social, cultural, environmental, and economic benefits of tourism; identify new markets; facilitate product development and investment opportunities; and contribute to reconciliation peace, wealth creation and poverty reduction on the African continent.

The Conference will bring together Ministers of Tourism and senior executives from both the public and private sectors of tourism, NGOs, and donor agencies, as well as educators, policy analysts, leading practitioners, entrepreneurs, future leaders of the industry, and senior representatives of related sectors including environment, culture and economic development.

Journalists are invited to go to www.iipt.org to apply for media credentials for the 4th IIPT African Conference – and participation in the First African Media Exchange or contact Ms. Karen Hoffman, Director, IIPT Public Relations at email iiptmedia@aol.com.

About International Institute for Peace through Tourism (IIPT)
IIPT is dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding and cooperation, an improved quality of environment, the preservation of heritage and poverty reduction, and through these initiatives, help bring about a more peaceful and sustainable world.

IIPT’s mission is to mobilize travel and tourism, the world’s largest industry, as the world’s first ‘Global Peace Industry,’ an industry that promotes and supports the belief that ‘Every traveler is potentially an Ambassador for Peace.’

For more information on IIPT please visit: www.iipt.org; Tel: 802 253.2658; Fax: 802 253.2645; Email: Africa@iipt.org

For more information on Counterpart International please visit: www.counterpart.org.

Media Contact: Karen Hoffman, The Bradford Group. Tel: 212 447.0027; Email: iiptmedia@aol.com.

CULTOUR is a real international exhibition on cultural travel

CULTOUR is the first in the world’s real international exhibition to reach the fast growing cultural travel market niche-claims GSAR Marketing, the organizing company.

Up to date, there are registered exhibitors from 12 countries: Argentina, Belgium, Croatia, Ecuador, Egypt, Italy, Libya, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Russia, Spain and the USA.

Also up to date, hosted buyers requesting be registered in CULTOUR –tour operators and travel agent wholesaling cultural travel- are coming from 38countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Syria, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Uruguay, UK and USA.

CULTOUR will be held January 25^th and 26^th in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

For further information enter www.cultourfair.com or contact Ben Hessler at gsar@gsamark.com

Bird Workshop acknowledges 6 Threatened species in Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary

The Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN) has confirmed the presence of 6 Threatened Species of Birds in the Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary which was acknowledged as an Important Bird Area (IBA) in the year 2004.

The Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary that is part of the Mahadayi Region and has a Recorded list of over 165 plus species of birds and is considered as a potential area for conservation of Threatened species of Birds, according to the Indian Bird Conservation Network (IBCN).

The 6 Threatened species include the Long Billed Vulture ( Critically Endangered), Nilgiri Wood Pigeon (Vulnerable), Oriental Darter( Near Threatened), Malabar Pied hornbill (Near Threatened) , Great Pied Hornbill (Near Threatened), and the Lesser Kestrel(Vulnerable), all documented in the forests of the Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary.

This fact came to light at a recently Workshop on Important Bird Areas of Goa and Maharashtra held from 14^th Oct to !8^th Oct at Mollem National Park by the Indian Bird Conservation Network(IBCN) and Birdlife International in collaboration with the Bombay Natural History Society(BNHS).

The workshop addressed issues regarding threats to the existing Important Bird Areas in Goa and Maharashtra and the need to monitor them for the purpose of conservation.

The currently recognized Important Bird Areas in Goa are Mahadayi Wildlife sanctuary, the Bhagvan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National park, the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary and the Carambolim Lake.

The workshop also saw participants plan strategies for recognition and advocacy of these IBA’s by the public and various presentations were done on the same over the 5 day period. An attempt to revise the existing Checklists for these IBA’s was also made.

An important aspect of proper data collection for these recognized sites of International importance was also finalized and field demonstrations were carried out at the Mollem National Park.

The major threats that were identified for the IBA’s of Goa were Mining, Habitat loss, monoculture plantations, poaching (in case of wetland birds), human interference and large scale development projects. Attention was drawn by participants from Goa of the impacts of the Mahadayi Diversion Project planned by the Karnataka state on the Mahadayi Wildlife Sanctuary and its Bird habitats.

The presence of stalwarts from the Birding community like Mr. Carl Dsilva, renowned Bird Illustrator, Mr. Ramesh Ladkhedkar, senior researcher on the Great Indian Bustard and Mr Sharad Apte, Bird Call recordist proved to be boon for all researchers attending the workshop.

The Goa team of IBCN members was represented by Parag Rangnekar, Nirmal Kulkarni, Pankaj Lad, Devidas Kotkar and Nitin Naik.

The workshop had Mr. Prashant Mahajan from the Bombay Natural History Society as Chief Trainer while Mr. Ian Barber and Mr. Ken Smith from the Royal Society for the Protection OF Birds, UK, participated and provided valuable inputs as part of the training program. Other Trainers included Mohommed Dilawar and Kulojyoti Lahakar, both Scientific Officers from the IBCN Secretariat in Mumbai.

Nirmal Kulkarni

On behalf of IBCN Goa.

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