I found this which may come to your attention.
More than a half a million people send their mail to Santa Claus, Ind. every Christmas, but very few actually travel to the small town for the holidays.That could soon change.
Holiday World is one of the biggest tourist attractions in southwestern Indiana.But, once the summer heat leaves, the town of Santa Claus tends to become as barren and quiet as the North Pole, where its namesake lives.
A brand new light show at the Lake Rudolph campsite in Santa Claus tells the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer before he became famous.
You've probably never seen Santa Claus lit up like that, not just because the show is new but also because you're probably more used to seeing it full of amusement park fans at Holiday World.
That's exactly what Philip Koch said it's all about.
"There hasn't been a lot for people to do in the town outside of the main summer season when Holiday World is open."
And, the plan to draw people to Santa Claus also includes a new Christmas-themed store - complete with Santa himself.
Koch said during the town's more than 150-year history there have been times when things have been booming at holiday time just not all that recently."We've created a lot of events and different things for people to really bring them here and have a good time with their family for the Christmas season," he said.
The light display is a one-point-two mile journey.You can take you car through it.
It costs $15 a pop - covering the almost $400,000 Dave Lovell, with Lake Rudolph, said it cost to put this on.
"We have over 300 light displays here for the light show. And, 35-percent of them are animated."
And, though Lovell isn't sure how well attended the show will be this first time around, he's hopeful it will be the start of a brand new story for tourism in Santa Claus.Part of the proceeds from the light display.The Santa Claus Land of Lights officially opens to the public Friday night.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Visit to Maryland
Do you want to go to Maryland?
Maryland's governor told a conference of tourism professionals that the state is beginning to see some positive indicators amid a stagnant national economy.
Advertisement
"There are people who have been doing revenue estimates in your state government -- very professional, smart people -- for 30, 40 years, and they've never seen anything like what's happened in the last two years of this recession," Gov. Martin O'Malley said. "But we're starting to see some glimmers of hope."
O'Malley addressed a luncheon at the Maryland Tourism & Travel Summit, formerly the Governor's Tourism Industry Conference, at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. The annual event, in its 29th year, saw lower attendees than usual, officials said, likely as a result of the economy.
The governor said while nationwide tourism and travel-related jobs fell by 8 percent in the last year, Maryland saw those jobs increase by 1.5 percent. He also said overall lodging nights broke even while the rest of the country was down "considerably."
O'Malley noted a recent Forbes magazine report that Maryland is among a handful of states that saw growth in the last year. He also said in September the state gained 1,400 construction jobs -- the first increase in that sector in 18 months.
"There's 50 ships in our fleet, and you could not be on a stronger ship than the good ship Maryland," he said, repeating a nautical analogy he's used often in 2009. "We'll get through this. We're going to get through it together, and we're going to come out of it stronger than before."
Anirban Basu, an economist who addressed the conference last Thursday, said Maryland is in better economic shape than most other states.
He said since September 2008, the state lost 58,000 jobs -- about 62 percent of which came from the Baltimore area -- though at half the pace of the rest of the U.S. He also said the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas have the lowest unemployment rates among major urban areas.
"I don't think we fully appreciate how rough things are out there for the rest of people," Basu said.
He predicted that next year's economy will show moderate improvement, though it's too early to say if inflation will be problematic. He also said U.S. unemployment is likely to peak above 10 percent, as taxes are likely to rise while Bush-era tax cuts lapse.
O'Malley presented the Visit Maryland Award to Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences for its "Host Our Coast" program, which paid two young people to set up shop on the Lower Shore and post blog items and videos about their outdoor adventures all summer.
O'Malley also mentioned Thursday how the state's current budget was crafted with the intention of protecting dollars earmarked for tourism marketing. "We took cuts to a greater degree on the statewide things so that the destination marketing would be less impacted," he said.
"And I can tell you this," O'Malley added. "As long as I'm governor, you'll never see me take one dime or one dollar of your tourism promotion ads to put pictures of my wife and kids on TV, or me. You know, campaigns are campaigns. These dollars are precious to you, they're precious to our economy. We might have fewer of them, but every single dime goes to promoting your industry."
Former governor Robert Ehrlich during his 2003-2007 term starred in state tourism advertisements on radio and television. Ehrlich, a Republican who lost the 2006 election to O'Malley, is said to be mulling another State House run for 2010.
When asked, O'Malley later denied that his comment was a jab at Ehrlich.
"No, it was more underscoring that we made a commitment that we'd use all the dollars to promote tourism, and not for political purposes," he said. "And that's what we've done. We've stuck to that commitment."
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Nigeria - Calture to explore
Emma Okereke — Leaders of Uvuru clan in Aboh Mbaise local government area of Imo state have announced their intention to utilize their culture for the sustenance of peace and unity amongst the five federating communities in their area.
They have therefore vowed to engrave their cultural heritage to the international tourism map by not only making their culture an annual event but by ensuring that it attracts tourists around the world to the area yearly.
Speaking during the unveiling of the logo for the 2009 "Bia Were Oji Uvuru Cultural Festival" of the clan held at its town hall, the President-General of the Uvuru Federated Union (UFU), Mr. Iheukwumere Alaribe a lawyer, described the ceremony as a unifying factor of the people.
Alaribe noted that the festival, rebranded 18 years ago, has served as a unifying and rallying point for the five autonomous communities in Uvuru clan, stressing that the aim of the festival whose climax would be celebrated in December this year was to enhance peace and unity amongst the people.
In his speech, the traditional ruler of Isiala-Uvuru, HRH Eze Peter Uduhirinwa who repackaged the culture in 1992 when he served as the President-General of the community commended the youths of the area for working towards the enthronement of peace and brotherliness through their culture.
Relevant Links
* West Africa
* Nigeria
* Travel
In his comment, another traditional ruler from the area, HRH Eze Michael Njoku of Amassa-Uvuru autonomous community assured that his community as the host of the festival this year would add innovation so that the festival would be in the limelight.
In his address, the chairman, organizing committee of this year's "Bia Were Oji Uvuru Cultural Festival", Stanley Amuchie said the people celebrate the cola-nut annually because of its significance in Igbo culture and tradition and its cultural position to unify the people.
He assured that the festival would be made one of the international events to be celebrated in Mbaise as a whole, pointing out that it is being repackaged to attract foreigners who may be conferred with chieftaincy titles and other honours of Uvuru land.
They have therefore vowed to engrave their cultural heritage to the international tourism map by not only making their culture an annual event but by ensuring that it attracts tourists around the world to the area yearly.
Speaking during the unveiling of the logo for the 2009 "Bia Were Oji Uvuru Cultural Festival" of the clan held at its town hall, the President-General of the Uvuru Federated Union (UFU), Mr. Iheukwumere Alaribe a lawyer, described the ceremony as a unifying factor of the people.
Alaribe noted that the festival, rebranded 18 years ago, has served as a unifying and rallying point for the five autonomous communities in Uvuru clan, stressing that the aim of the festival whose climax would be celebrated in December this year was to enhance peace and unity amongst the people.
In his speech, the traditional ruler of Isiala-Uvuru, HRH Eze Peter Uduhirinwa who repackaged the culture in 1992 when he served as the President-General of the community commended the youths of the area for working towards the enthronement of peace and brotherliness through their culture.
Relevant Links
* West Africa
* Nigeria
* Travel
In his comment, another traditional ruler from the area, HRH Eze Michael Njoku of Amassa-Uvuru autonomous community assured that his community as the host of the festival this year would add innovation so that the festival would be in the limelight.
In his address, the chairman, organizing committee of this year's "Bia Were Oji Uvuru Cultural Festival", Stanley Amuchie said the people celebrate the cola-nut annually because of its significance in Igbo culture and tradition and its cultural position to unify the people.
He assured that the festival would be made one of the international events to be celebrated in Mbaise as a whole, pointing out that it is being repackaged to attract foreigners who may be conferred with chieftaincy titles and other honours of Uvuru land.
Anniversary of the Fall of the Wall generates record number of visitors
More than 2 million visitors flocked to the German capital to celebrate the anniversary “20 Years since the Fall of the Wall”. They set a new record for tourism in Berlin. On November 9th alone hundreds of thousands of Berliners and their guests gathered for the anniversary celebrations at the Brandenburg Gate.
Burkhard Kieker, CEO of Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH comments, “Over the last few days Berliners have shown millions of guests what they have done with their city in the 20 years since the Fall of the Wall. The fact that the world loves this new Berlin is confirmed by the steadily rising numbers of visitors – even in the thick of the global economic crisis.”
The hotels in the city were almost fully booked for the anniversary. Furthermore, there was considerable media interest in the “Festival of Freedom”. Around 2,800 international journalists were accredited for the event at the Brandenburg Gate. The images of the celebrations were broadcast around the globe.
Kieker went on, “Innumerable spectators watched the ceremony at the Brandenburg Gate live on TV. These moving images have made an impact and prompted a desire to find out more about Berlin. The appeal of Berlin as a site of freedom, as a focal point of European history and a city where people can live together in a climate of tolerance and openness will continue to grow in the future.”
Burkhard Kieker, CEO of Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH comments, “Over the last few days Berliners have shown millions of guests what they have done with their city in the 20 years since the Fall of the Wall. The fact that the world loves this new Berlin is confirmed by the steadily rising numbers of visitors – even in the thick of the global economic crisis.”
The hotels in the city were almost fully booked for the anniversary. Furthermore, there was considerable media interest in the “Festival of Freedom”. Around 2,800 international journalists were accredited for the event at the Brandenburg Gate. The images of the celebrations were broadcast around the globe.
Kieker went on, “Innumerable spectators watched the ceremony at the Brandenburg Gate live on TV. These moving images have made an impact and prompted a desire to find out more about Berlin. The appeal of Berlin as a site of freedom, as a focal point of European history and a city where people can live together in a climate of tolerance and openness will continue to grow in the future.”
Discussion on Natural Tourist Attaction In South Africa
Here's Some Thought About South Africa
South Africa's Drakensberg mountains are home to the world's second-highest waterfall, the Tugela Falls (Thukela Falls), with a total drop of 947 metres. They are easily viewed after a heavy rain from the main road into the park. (The highest waterfall in the world is the 979-metre Salto Angel in Venezuela.)
The Cango Caves is one of the worlds great natural wonders, sculptured by nature through the ages - fascinating limestone formations in a wide variety of colours. Trained guides conduct visitors through this underground wonderworld of the world's finest stalactite cave.
The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest "gorge" in the world (largest green canyon) and one of South Africa's fanous natural wonders. The Blyde River Canyon is the kind of place where brochures and guide books run out of original adjectives to describe the fresh mountain scenery and magnificent panoramic views.
Where the Blyde River ("river of joy") and the Treur River ("river of sorrow") meet, water erosion has formed one of South Africa's most remarkable geological phenomena, known as the Bourke's Luck Potholes. Over thousands of years, surreal cylindrical rock sculptures created by whirling water, have formed a series of dark pools which contrast artfully with the streaked white and yellow lichen covered rocks.
At God's Window on the Drakensberg escarpment, majestic cliffs plunge over 700 meters to the Lowveld and the private game reserves which have made the area one of Africa's prime wildlife destinations.
God's Window is a small part of a 250km long rampart of sheer cliffs - it indeed seems as if one can see forever! With its magnificent views, rock formations, canyons and waterfalls, God's Window is truly an area of breathtaking scenic grandeur.
The series of caverns called the Sudwala Caves are one of South Africa's major attractions. The caves are believed to be about 2 000 million years old and contain not only stalagmites and stalagtites, but also the fossilised remains of 'collenia' a form of algae that it is believed life on earth evolved from.
The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park has both one of the largest estuary systems in Africa and the continent's southernmost coral reefs. In granting it World Heritage status in 1999, the World Heritage Committee noted the park's "exceptional biodiversity, including some 521 bird species".
Around 2-billion years ago a massive meteorite, 10 kilometres in diameter, hit the earth about 100km southwest of Johannesburg, creating an enormous impact crater. What remains of this impact crater is now known as the Vredefort Dome and is located near to the small Free State town of Vredefort.
South Africa has many top Game / Nature Reserves, and is home to many of the mammals of southern Africa. Numerous wildlife safari and tour companies operate guided tours to South Africa. Popular adventure travel activities in South Africa include: horse riding safaris, elephant back safaris, mountain biking, birding, wilderness walking trails, science safaris and volunteering especially for GAP year students.
South Africa's Drakensberg mountains are home to the world's second-highest waterfall, the Tugela Falls (Thukela Falls), with a total drop of 947 metres. They are easily viewed after a heavy rain from the main road into the park. (The highest waterfall in the world is the 979-metre Salto Angel in Venezuela.)
The Cango Caves is one of the worlds great natural wonders, sculptured by nature through the ages - fascinating limestone formations in a wide variety of colours. Trained guides conduct visitors through this underground wonderworld of the world's finest stalactite cave.
The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest "gorge" in the world (largest green canyon) and one of South Africa's fanous natural wonders. The Blyde River Canyon is the kind of place where brochures and guide books run out of original adjectives to describe the fresh mountain scenery and magnificent panoramic views.
Where the Blyde River ("river of joy") and the Treur River ("river of sorrow") meet, water erosion has formed one of South Africa's most remarkable geological phenomena, known as the Bourke's Luck Potholes. Over thousands of years, surreal cylindrical rock sculptures created by whirling water, have formed a series of dark pools which contrast artfully with the streaked white and yellow lichen covered rocks.
At God's Window on the Drakensberg escarpment, majestic cliffs plunge over 700 meters to the Lowveld and the private game reserves which have made the area one of Africa's prime wildlife destinations.
God's Window is a small part of a 250km long rampart of sheer cliffs - it indeed seems as if one can see forever! With its magnificent views, rock formations, canyons and waterfalls, God's Window is truly an area of breathtaking scenic grandeur.
The series of caverns called the Sudwala Caves are one of South Africa's major attractions. The caves are believed to be about 2 000 million years old and contain not only stalagmites and stalagtites, but also the fossilised remains of 'collenia' a form of algae that it is believed life on earth evolved from.
The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park has both one of the largest estuary systems in Africa and the continent's southernmost coral reefs. In granting it World Heritage status in 1999, the World Heritage Committee noted the park's "exceptional biodiversity, including some 521 bird species".
Around 2-billion years ago a massive meteorite, 10 kilometres in diameter, hit the earth about 100km southwest of Johannesburg, creating an enormous impact crater. What remains of this impact crater is now known as the Vredefort Dome and is located near to the small Free State town of Vredefort.
South Africa has many top Game / Nature Reserves, and is home to many of the mammals of southern Africa. Numerous wildlife safari and tour companies operate guided tours to South Africa. Popular adventure travel activities in South Africa include: horse riding safaris, elephant back safaris, mountain biking, birding, wilderness walking trails, science safaris and volunteering especially for GAP year students.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
