http://rural.travelage.eu/ rural.travelage.eu - en Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:46:31 +0000 barcodex@gmail.com barcodex@gmail.com 20 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=248&lang=en As reports GreenDiary.com, the folks at Jackson Family Wines in California have chanced upon a technologically advanced method to tone down their annual water consumption. This news item might seem ecological at first place. Actually, it is. But as everyone else, farmers in rural areas would also think more about the environment and find new neat methods to farm without causing natural resource to degrade. This news are especially important as the biggest environmental problem in California IS the water. So, we cannot just let such news go - read further to know about winery's method. ]]> Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:12:56 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=248&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=244&lang=en This might sound as ridiculous news item, but it illustrates how technical progress affects villages and their traditional look. We all know that rapid development of mobile telephony badly affected business of fixed line telephony, including the booths in the streets we once used for making calls while not at home or in the office. Now, when everyone uses mobile phones, it gets too expensive for phone companies to maintain public phones that nobody really uses. However, red phone box is an important brand for UK. It brings charm to cities, towns and villages. Without them, British settlements lose part of their Britishness. ]]> Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:30:22 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=244&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=243&lang=en 2009 has been a important year for Sri Lanka with the declaration of peace allowing the country’s many historic, natural and cultural marvels to take centre stage. The improved safety and security situation have opened up the areas of Yala National Park which boasts a variety of wildlife including the highest density of wild leopards worldwide, Arugam Bay – a world renowned surfing mecca, and much of the east coast including the historic port of Trincomalee – an up and coming place to wreck dive. These important additions complement Sri Lanka’s tropical beaches, tea plantations, cave temples and wild elephants that foreign visitors (mostly British) have been coming to see for many years. ]]> Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:18:58 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=243&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=242&lang=en For the first time in its history, the Innsbruck Tourist Board has launched a definitive Religious Travel portfolio for the city and its 25 holiday villages. Along with thematic tours and excursion, one aspect is the church service. For any religious travel group staying in Innsbruck or its 25 holiday villages, the Innsbruck Tourist Board will arrange a church to open its doors for a private service for that Group, free of charge ]]> Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:15:05 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=242&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=241&lang=en Blenheim Palace, one of England’s most famous stately homes, became the 2000th member of the Green Tourism Business Scheme in a special ceremony carried out by Conservative Party leader David Cameron. The ancestral home of one of England’s greatest military heroes, the Duke of Marlborough, and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill has been awarded a Silver grading by the UK’s leading green tourism promotional body in recognition of its commitment to helping the environment. On Friday, 13th of November, local MP David Cameron presented the Duke of Marlborough with a Heritage Tree to mark the Palace’s continued commitment to conservation and the environment. ]]> Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:57:04 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=241&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=240&lang=en Lebanon’s Harissa Forest is only 400 square hectares in size, but it is considered one of ten Mediterranean forest attractions from a sheer beauty and conservation standpoint. Located on a hillside above the predominantly Christian city of Jounieh, the more than 1,000 year old forest had been threatened by real estate developers and construction contractors who wanted to include the area in a series of holiday resort developments that included a cable car (pictured above), restaurants and night clubs, and a large casino. But it’s thanks to the work of a church that generations in the future will get to experience this natural treasure. ]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:13:57 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=240&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=239&lang=en “A land flowing with milk and honey” – that’s one of the most well-known passages from Exodus describing the Land of Israel and one of the first biblical expressions to make its way into the English language. Today, Israel is known for its abundant variety of high-quality food products made from these very ingredients. While olive oil and dates from Israel are widely available in the United States at supermarkets and health food stores, a new American company called Negev Nectars – based in the Tri-State region – is making sure that the very “best of the sustainable best” from Israel will be delivered to American doorsteps, three times a year. ]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:08:06 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=239&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=237&lang=en Is a border line simply a virtual line appearing on the map? If so, why is it that Israeli rodents are more cautious than Jordanian rodents? Why is it that there are more ant lions in Israel than in Jordan? And how come there are more reptile species in Jordan than in Israel? ]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:44:35 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=237&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=217&lang=en Speed bumps are the bane of many an urban driver all around the world. We understand that the little protrusions were first installed to promote safety by getting drivers to slow down in congested areas, but we can't be the only ones that think the dang things have been getting out of hand as of late. Such is apparently the case in Toluca, Mexico, where a company called Decano Industries is working on a new smart speed bump that may both increase safety and decrease fuel consumption. Wait... smart speed bump? ]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:50:03 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=217&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=214&lang=en New full-featured route is being developed in Loire Valley for tourists on bicycles. The route ("La Loire a Velo") goes through the central region and departments of Western Loire, and is designed to introduce a countryside and the most important castles. Length of the route that starts in Nevers and ends on Atlantic coast, is about 800 kilometers. It goes through Orleans, Blois, Tours, Saumur, Angers and Nantes. By now, approximately 600 km of roads are prepared. If everything goes as planned, all roads will be ready by 2011. ]]> Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:58:27 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=214&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=213&lang=en Guides from Simferopol, central city of Ukrainian Crimea peninsula, proposed to attract visitors to tourst sites by special performances - historical scenes. According to these idea, performances might happen in unexpected places - for example caves, where tourists are brought by local travel agencies. ]]> Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:49:40 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=213&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=197&lang=en On every 3rd Thursday of November, it comes the joyous French national event of “Beaujolais Nouveau”, a day for the formal release of the new vintage of Beaujolais. ]]> Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:56:55 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=197&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=183&lang=en Source: ABC News Kangaroo Island Council had proposed a levy to help meet fast-rising costs such as road maintenance. However, Tourism Kangaroo Island has decided it will not support any tourist levy for the Island. ]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:38:12 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=183&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=182&lang=en We at rural.travelage.eu heart birds. We are not the real birdwatchers, though. This, however, cannot stop us reporting the super-useful website for real birdwatchers, that we have recently spotted on the net. Please welcome the aviatlas.com, very nicely done Google Mashup with interactive map and descriptions of spots for watching birds all over the world. ]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:59:23 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=182&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=180&lang=en As reports vacationscostarica.com, National Geographic has just come back from Costa Rica’s Isla de Coco (Coco’s Island) which lies 500km West of Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast and has stated that it is one of the most purest and cleanest places on the planet. Isla de Coco should not be confused wth Playas del Coco, a popular beach in the Guanacaste region of northern Costa Rica. ]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:37:23 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=180&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=179&lang=en UNESCO is ready to withdraw Lamu osland from the World Heritage List, if its inhabitants will continue to ruin what was the reason of inclusion of the island into the list - unique houses made from petrified corals, with their cool patios, numerous terrasses, beautifully carved doors. It seems that Heritage List status did not actually cheer the locals, as they constantly break the rules implied by UNESCO, in order to earn their dollars from (frequently irresponsilbe) tourism. ]]> Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:13:24 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=179&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=165&lang=en Since most of places (that are interesting for rural travelers) are best reached by cars, we are glad to promote any initiative from car manufacturers about fuel efficiency, because it makes rural travel even more nature-friendly. Someone has calculated that single two-hour flight from A to B has the same ecological footprint that going from A to B by car in two weeks. This year, Audi goes from A to B with some style. ]]> Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:05:07 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=165&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=163&lang=en We have noticed a new kid on the block of travel-oriented search engines. It's Goby.com, and except its short domain name, it features a new approach to searching for travel-oriented information. ]]> Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:19:10 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=163&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=151&lang=en Article by Edward Hoagland (Published in March 2009 issue of National Geographic) Jiuzhaigou means "valley of nine villages," because it once harbored nine, but other numbers are more significant now. About 80 hotels are clustered cleanly at the mouth of a Y-shaped, 20-mile-long valley in the Min Mountains of central China, where 280 buses wait to shuttle this day's 18,000 or so visitors up the very pretty route, past a chain of flower-colored, ribbony lakes and fingery waterfalls, underneath escarpments chevroned with maple, spruce, or bamboo forests cut by the talus of old landslides. ]]> Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:37:05 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=151&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=150&lang=en Article by David Quammen (from January 2009 issue of National Geographic magazine). Some places on this planet are so wondrous, and so frangible, that maybe we just shouldn't go there. Maybe we should leave them alone and appreciate them from afar. Send a delegated observer who will absorb much, walk lightly, and report back as Neil Armstrong did from the moon—and let the rest of us stay home. That paradox applies to Kronotsky Zapovednik, a remote nature reserve on the east side of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, along the Pacific coast a thousand miles north of Japan. ]]> Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:29:59 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=150&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=108&lang=en I found this article just a few days ago, despite it was actually written on a Valentine Day last year. This article is perfect example of successful propagation of rural tourism, describing its benefits to wide auduence, and at the same time, the article accentuates why it is good for Ibiza in particular. Most of practical notes and advices are valid for all other places open for rural tourists - but this guys also provide information about accommodation and activities on this Balearic Island, widely known for its club life. ]]> Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:46:47 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=108&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=106&lang=en South-west Queensland is now hoping to open a centre to showcase the region's fossil finds to tourists. A multi-million dollar dinosaur museum is already under construction at Winton in the state's central west. But now a locally-driven group called the Outback Gondwana Foundation is hoping to build a $1.5 million facility near Eromanga, west of Quilpie, reports ABC News (www.abc.net.au) ]]> Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:25:14 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=106&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=105&lang=en South China's Guangdong Province has been seeking foreign funds and co-operations to construct more "farms" and other speciality scenic spots to boost rural tourism industry. The 'farms' for sightseeing and other tourist projects will be located in Qingyuan, Zhaoqing, Shaoguan, Yunfu, Jieyang, Meizhou and Chaozhou in the province's mountainous areas. "The countryside and village tourism industry has great potential," said an official from Guangdong Provincial Administration of Tourism yesterday. ]]> Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:11:33 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=105&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=104&lang=en A 340 million-year-old cave at Jenolan reopened on 20th of August after a $500,000 upgrade, reports ABC News (www.abc.net.au) The Jenolan Caves are an example of remarkable caverns in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia; 175 kilometres west of Sydney. They are the most celebrated of several similar groups in the limestone of the country being the oldest discovered open caves in the world. ]]> Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:00:01 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=104&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=103&lang=en Australian State Government will spend close to $300 000 upgrading tracks and lookouts at the Stanley Nut on Tasmania's north-west coast, reports ABC News (www.abc.net.au). The Nut, an old volcanic plug discovered by the explorers Bass and Flinders in 1798, who officially named it Circular Head. It has steep sides and rises to 143 metres with a flat top. It is possible to walk to the top of The Nut via a steep track. Tourists regularly travel to Highfield (a farming region on the north west of the township) to view the picturesque northern beaches with The Nut in the background. ]]> Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:49:39 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=103&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=101&lang=en We continue to deliver you the articles of Karen Chernik of prophet.com about Eco Tourism possibilities in the Middle East. This time her article covers Yemen. ]]> Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:44:19 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=101&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=100&lang=en We continue to deliver you the articles of Karen Chernik of prophet.com about Eco Tourism possibilities in the Middle East. This time her article covers Lebanon. ]]> Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:35:40 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=100&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=99&lang=en We continue to deliver you the articles of Karen Chernik of prophet.com about Eco Tourism possibilities in the Middle East. This time her article covers Syria. ]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:40:49 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=99&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=98&lang=en We continue to deliver you the articles of Karen Chernik of prophet.com about Eco Tourism possibilities in the Middle East. This time her article covers Jordan ]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:33:17 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=98&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=97&lang=en In our attempt to deliver you all the best news on rural, green and responsible travel, we found several invaluable sites that are providing this kind of information. We are very happy to introduce these sites and their authors to you. One of the best data sources is greenprophet.com. Here is a teaser of Karen Chernick's article about Eco Tourism in Egypt (the one from her series about Eco Tourism in the Middle East) ]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:27:26 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=97&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=96&lang=en Karen Chernick of greenprophet.com reports about GoEco, a volunteer organization established in 2005 by Jonathan Gilben and Jonathan Tal (both of whom have degrees in Environmental and Geographical Studies), which is a pioneer in introducing the concept of volunteer tourism to Israel. Volunteer tourism is a relatively new field in which travel benefits not only the tourist but the community that he or she visits. Following text is an exerpt from Karen's article, which can also be found at greenprophet.com ]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:18:00 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=96&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=95&lang=en At $16 a person, The Real Coffee Tour is not the principle bread winner for the Vargas family, which has run the Doka Estate coffee plantation through generations and almost 80 years. But for owner Don Rodrigo Vargas, it is one of his greatest sources of delight. His story was originally published by costaricapages.com ]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:58:37 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=95&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=94&lang=en New tourism project set to start on four Cape Verde islands Cospe, a non-governmental organisation from Italy, is developing a new tourism project for the Cape Verde islands. Santiago will be one of four islands involved in the "rural tourism network", which aims to celebrate and improve local products for the purpose of boosting Cape Verde's tourism industry. ]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:35:22 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=94&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=93&lang=en Not many foreigners live in Xiamen know that Bougainvillea is in fact a city flower of Xiamen. Even if you don’t know the flower by name, Bougainville or Bouganvillea will be well known to many foreigners in Xiamen soon. Bougainvillea Park on Damao Mountain was open to the Xiamen public couple of weeks ago. This feature attracted more than 10 thousand people who chose to visit the park on previous weekends and savour a kaleidoscope of colour for themselves. We bring you this article thanks to whatsonxiamen.com, who cite WOX Info as a main source of this information. We encourage you to visit their site to learn even more about Xiamen region. ]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:20:34 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=93&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=72&lang=en Article by Olivia Lang from Male for Reuters - as published on reuters.com The Maldives will shift entirely to renewable energy over the next decade to become the first carbon-neutral nation and fight climate change that threatens the low-lying archipelago's existence, said the president Mohamed Nasheed. ]]> Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:41:39 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=72&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=59&lang=en www.bimpbc.org" width="200"> North Sulawesi`s `Bunaken` National Marine Park in Manado waters where the `Sail Bunaken` festival is being held with hundreds of yachts and warships from many countries taking part, is being proposed for recognition as a World Natural Heritage. “Many countries have suggested that we propose the inclusion of the Bunaken National Marine Park (TNL) in the World Natural Heritage list. Indonesia has submitted its proposal and is doing its best to have the park with its uniqueness recognized as one of the world natural heritages,” Director General of Maritime and Fisheries Supervision affairs Aji Sularso said. ]]> Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:39:42 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=59&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=58&lang=en www.adambruzzone.com" width="200"> Despite an agreement between North Korea and South Korean conglomerate Hyundai Group to restart their joint tourism business to Mount Kumgang, it remains unclear whether and when South Korean tourists will again be able to visit the scenic resort on the North’s eastern coast. ]]> Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:26:14 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=58&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=57&lang=en China is preparing to enter four mountain lakes in the country’s northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the World Heritage List, a Chinese researcher confirmed Tuesday. The lakes would be entered as a single unit on the list. It will be the Xinjiang region’s first entry on the World Heritage List of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) if the nomination is accepted, said Yang Zhaoping of the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). ]]> Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:14:51 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=57&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=56&lang=en Trekking holidays have become increasingly popular this year, according to specialist, The Adventure Company, UK. With Ben Fogle, Bruce Parry and even Chris Moyles’ adventures documented on television these destinations have captured the imagination of the public in the past 12 months. ]]> Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:51:19 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=56&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=55&lang=en The Sandos Caracol Eco Resort & Spa is welcoming travelers to the revitalized eco property with the launch of complimentary Eco Tours. The complimentary Eco Tour takes guests on an interwoven path throughout the property where they can discover the nature areas within the eco resort. Guides will help participants observe the extraordinary details that the Mayan jungle holds including treasures such as 16 natural cenotes, indigenous animals and exotic fauna. ]]> Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:33:47 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=55&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=36&lang=en Those of us who have heard the word "Parador" before, might think that paradores are not something that should be discussed on a site that specializes on rural, responsible and green travel. Well, while admitting that many paradores are not exactly in the countryside, other half is actually located in rural areas, providing such degree of harmony with landscapes and historical environment as few establishments can ever do. ]]> Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:25:26 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=36&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=34&lang=en Tourism definitely plays an effective role in the reduction of poverty, promotion of economy and social development of the country. Tourism implies all those activities enroute the tourist destinations, which offers alternative opportunities of income to local residents, thereby contributing in the rural development and empowerment of the community members. ]]> Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:44:38 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=34&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=33&lang=en Good news from over the Atlantic ocean, from Colombia. The 1st Expo Tourism and Business Fair, which will take place in Dosquebradas, in the Café Triangle, becomes an excellent showcase for the trade promotion and dissemination of the rural tourism product that is one of the greatest strengths of Dosquebradas. ]]> Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:40:46 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=33&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=32&lang=en Online edition of India's National Newspaper, The Hindu, wrote in 2004 about plans of Haryana state of India to develop rural tourism. Years after, infrastructure of the state is well-developed; you can explore their web at http://haryanatourism.gov.in. ]]> Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:33:21 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=32&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=31&lang=en Everyone who has not visited Hong Kong and just saw it on the World Map, would wonder - are there any countryside in this microscopic country, recently joined China? ]]> Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:21:49 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=31&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=30&lang=en Rural India has much to offer to the world. Rich in traditions of arts, crafts and culture, rural India can emerge as important tourist spots. Those in the developed world who have a craze for knowledge about traditional ways of life, arts and crafts will be attracted to visit rural India if the concept of rural tourism is marketed well. ]]> Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:08:26 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=30&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=29&lang=en Expected changes in global climate pose threats to coral reefs in several ways. More frequent storms will increasingly cause physical damage to coral reefs. Increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will reduce the ability of corals to build their calcium carbonate skeletons. Higher water temperatures are likely to increase the incidence of coral diseases and temperature increases of only 1 to 1.5˚C above the long-term average can cause mass coral bleaching. Authorities of Great Barrier Reef Marine Park published their guidelines for marine tourism operators in order to improve awareness of the ecological problems related to climate change and tourism practices. By re-posting the article we hope that our readers would know what is recommended way of organizing tours around the Great Barrier Reef and then support the most responsible operators. ]]> Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:45:09 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=29&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=13&lang=en U.S. travelers are more familiar with sustainable travel terminology than they were two years ago but remain unwilling to pay more for eco-friendly travel options according to the July travelhorizons(TM), the quarterly consumer survey co-authored by the U.S. Travel Association and Ypartnership. Our take: We at rural.travelage.eu are glad to see that there is a demand for "green travel" if there are ways to do it with reasonable price. Now, all we need is enough offers with justified price to satisfy this demand. It might be tough at first, but rewarding in the future. We are publishing all news regarding sustainable and responsible travel and hope to change people's mindset so they would prefer this kind of travel. Read more to learn more details about the survey. ]]> Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:56:08 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=13&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=12&lang=en Opening up the conservation estate to mining interests could put New Zealand’s 20.1 billion NZ dollars (13.8 billion US dollars) tourism industry at risk, the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) warned on Friday. Our take: While it is too easy to say "Drop out mining, stick with tourism", and we are of course favouring keeping New Zealand's landscapes unspoilt, we recognize it as a bigger problem, and something for all of us to think. Mining, driven by demand for new things, is important. As long as we need more things, the more natural resources should be excavated, in one place or another. How can we choose, which landscape is ok to spoil, and which not? Do we have any ethical right to speak about this? Maybe we should rather review our consumer habits in first place and push more effort in recycling goods rather than digging for new raw materials? ]]> Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:43:29 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=12&lang=en http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=11&lang=en Those of us interested in climbing might be interested that PeakAdventureTour.com, leading Indian Adventure Tours and Travel Company set new milestone by conducting successful Kedarnath Peak Climbing Adventure Expedition. Kedarnath is a Hindu holy town located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Situated in the Himalayas, about 3584m above sea level near the head of river Mandakini, this destination is flanked by breathtaking snow-capped peaks. It is an exceptional destination surrounded with huge Himalayan Peaks and considered as home to natural & beautiful mountain sights. The Kedarnath Peak (6940m/22770ft) is just one of the few Himalayan Peaks in Kedarnath that is situated at the south of Gangotri Glacier and well known for peak climbing adventure activity. We republish this article from travelandtourismnews.com and you can either read it from original source at http://www.travelandtourismnews.com/peak-adventure-successfully-completed-kedarnath-peak-climbing-expedition, or continue reading below. ]]> Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:32:21 0 http://rural.travelage.eu/index.php?p=main/article&id=11&lang=en