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Impaired mobility doesn’t mean impaired experience, as Vision of the Fjords wins universal accessibility award from DOGA

Vision of the Fjords unlocks the jaw dropping beauty of West Norway’s fjords for everyone, regardless of mobility. That’s the message from the jury of this year’s Norwegian Centre for Design and Architecture (DOGA) Universal Design awards, which today chose the stunning hybrid electric vessel as the 2017 ‘transport’ winner for its commitment to optimal passenger accessibility, experience and environmental sustainability.

Owned and operated by The Fjords DA, Vision of the Fjords is as unique as the UNECSO World Heritage listed habitat it travels through. Designed to mirror the mountain paths that zigzag alongside the fjords themselves, the 400-passenger tourist vessel offers comfortable and accessible lounges, sweeping panoramic windows and low emission operations, with silent running electric motors carrying its carbon fibre hull through the spectacular Nærøyfjord. However, it’s the unparalleled functionality of the design, allowing all passengers to literally ‘climb’ over it, which really hit home with the DOGA jury.

“We, and our owners Fjord1 and Flåm AS, are not only committed to safeguarding our fjords, but also to ensuring that absolutely everyone can enjoy an experience of a lifetime on board our vessels,” states The Fjords CEO Rolf Sandvik. “As such, we ensured that the ‘path’ passengers use to ascend the ship, and really immerse themselves in the sensory delights of the nature here, is as accessible to those in wheelchairs, or of limited mobility, as it is to all. There’s no stairs, no elevators, no obstructions, just a gently sloping surface leading everyone to unforgettable views.

“The recognition from DOGA is, of course, very pleasing, but the real prize is in seeing the reactions of the passengers who take one of the 700 yearly trips on Vision of The Fjords. They have the ability to lose themselves in, and really be a part of, the nature here – using the vessel, both inside and out, to connect to it in a way that has never previously been possible.

“We’re delighted to be able to offer this standard of environmentally responsible, high quality and accessible service to all visitors from all over the world.”

Designed and built by Norwegian shipyard Brødrene Aa, Vision of The Fjords was conceived with the aim of universal accessibility from the outset. Consultations during the build process ensured that all passenger groups would be accommodated, with the Norwegian Handicap Society bringing a user group on board once completed to test the concept worked as well in practice as in theory.

DOGA was equally as impressed as the users, with the jury commenting that the design was both “radical and ground-breaking”, addressing the mobility issue with true innovation and creating a vessel with the potential to become genuinely “iconic”.

The Fjords, with the financial backing of Fjord1 and Flåm AS, is now seeking to build on the success of the vessel with a new ship, Future of The Fjords, in 2018. This vessel shares the design of its predecessor but actually improves the experience and environmental performance, as Sandvik explains:

“Vision of The Fjords marked an important step forward for ourselves, and for all operators and passengers interested in environmentally responsible, accessible and high quality tourism. However, we have, and our world needs, even greater ambitions.”

He continues: “Our new ship, Future of The Fjords, replaces its sister ship’s diesel-electric hybrid solution with pure electric propulsion. This means absolutely zero emissions, zero noise pollution and the most immersive experience possible for passengers. Basically the ship will just ‘melt away’ as we pass through the fjord panorama, allowing those on-board to escape into the purity and magic of their surroundings.

“This marks the fulfilment of our vision. Showing the world that it is possible to open up natural beauty to all, while safeguarding it for future generations and still providing the optimal passenger experience today. This is truly sustainable tourism, designed for everyone to delight in.”

Vision of The Fjords sails between Flåm and Gudvangen, a 90-minute journey, and is the only tourist vessel in the region to operate year round – opening up the area in off-peak periods to expose the breath-taking beauty of Winter, Spring and Autumn months. The Fjords operates a fleet of seven tourism vessels in the area, with the Future of The Fjords due to set sail in May next year.

 

The Fjords

The Fjords is dedicated to moving its passengers. Operating a fleet of seven tourism and transport vessels on the Western Norwegian fjords of Nærøyfjord, Geirangerfjord and Lysefjord, the company aims to connect customers not just to their destinations, but also to the unique natural beauty that surrounds them. The Fjords is co-owned 50/50 by Fjord1, Norway’s largest ferry company, and Flåm AS, which works to promote Flåm’s world-class tourism opportunities.   www.thefjords.no

 

The Fjord1 Group

The Fjord1 Group is one of the major transportation companies in Norway. The core operational area for the company is sea-based transport, by ferries- and passenger vessels. In addition, the company has operations in relation to catering, travel agency and property management. Fjord1 AS is owned by Havila AS and the County council of Sogn and Fjordane.            www.fjord1.no

Flåm AS

Flåm AS is a leading provider of tourist attractions in the fjords and mountains of western Norway and the global marketing and sales arm of the Flåm tourist business cluster including world class attractions such as the Flåmsbana railroad and The Fjords’ cruises in UNESCO world heritage fjords. Flåm AS is owned by SIVA (a Norwegian state business development company), Aurland municipality and Aurland Savings Bank. www.visitflam.com

For further details, please contact:
Rolf A. Sandvik
CEO, The Fjords                                                                                           
Phone: +47 906 04 825
Mail:   rolf@thefjords.no




Amadeus Time Limits and Group Time Limits – new automatic tools for the booking process

LOT Polish Airlines introduces new automatic tools for the booking process: GTL (Group Ticket Limits) and ATL (Amadeus Ticket Limit). ATL is an improved version of the existing ARI platform that defines real-time reservation limits.

After successful ATL and GTL tools tests the company is ready for implementation, which will take place on October 18, 2017.

From this point, in each group booking, the system automatically generates new OPW and OPC elements for Amadeus reservations and SSR ADTK and SSR OTHS for reservations in other systems, with information on limits for:

• name,
• ticketing,
• deposit,
• final payment.

In each individual booking additional elements (OPW/OPC – in Amadeus and SSR – in other systems) will apply only to the ticketing time limit.

LOT would like to emphasize that each reservation will be automatically cancelled if the limits are not met.

In addition to group bookings which contain deposits each time EMD must be sent to queues (for reservations in Amadeus) or email (for other GDSs) listed in the PNR. This is required to complete the deposit limit.

The implementation of GTL is the beginning of the LOT’s  path to complete automation of group handling processes. This is the first step before introducing another tool –  AGM (Amadeus Group Management).

Click here for the presentation!




Eurostar rapporteert een positief resultaat in het derde kwartaal van 2017 en positieve vooruitzichten voor eind van het jaar

Eurostar, de hogesnelheidstrein die het Verenigd Koninkrijk met het Europese vasteland verbindt, rapporteert vandaag een positief derde kwartaal 2017. Het aantal passagiers steeg met 4% (2,69 miljoen in 2017 t.o.v. 2,58 miljoen in 2016) en de omzet met 15% (211 miljoen Britse pond in 2017 t.o.v. 184 miljoen Britse pond in 2016) in vergelijking met vorig jaar.

Deze resultaten weerspiegelen een drukke zomervakantieperiode, ondersteund door een sterke prestatie in de eerste zes maanden van 2017. In de afgelopen drie kwartalen is het passagiersvolume met 2% gestegen (7,73 miljoen in 2017 t.o.v. 7,55 miljoen in 2016) en de omzet met 12% (666 miljoen Britse pond in 2017 t.o.v. 593 miljoen Britse pond in 2016) jaar-op-jaar.

Toename van internationaal verkeer en zakenreizen

De groei van Eurostar in 2017 werd gekenmerkt door een aanzienlijke toename van het aantal passagiers van buiten Europa, met name de VS.

Het aantal reizigers uit de VS en de rest van de wereld groeide met respectievelijk 24% en 18% jaar-op-jaar, omdat reizigers profiteren van de gunstige wisselkoers om naar Europa te komen en van de culturele attracties en winkelmogelijkheden te genieten.

De positieve prestatie van het bedrijf werd ook gestimuleerd door een sterke groei in de zakenreismarkt, waarbij het aantal zakelijke passagiers in de eerste negen maanden steeg met 6% en zelfs met 10% in kwartaal 3. Zakelijke klanten waarderen steeds meer het comfort, het gemak en de productiviteit van de hogesnelheidstrein tegenover het vliegtuig.

Vroege stijging van aantal kerstboekingen

Deze laatste weken heeft Eurostar een verschuiving in de kerstboekingshorizon gezien, met een stijging van 29% van de reserveringen voor de vakantieperiode t.o.v. hetzelfde moment vorig jaar. Terwijl in 2016 klanten hun reis later in het jaar boekten, scoren boekingen voor het huidige winterseizoen opvallend goed bij reizigers van het Europese vasteland die een shoppingtrip naar Londen plannen, en bij Britten die naar de Europese kerstmarkten willen.

Nicolas Petrovic, CEO Eurostar: “De groei die we in de eerste helft van het jaar hebben gerapporteerd, heeft zich in de zomer doorgezet en we zien ook een grote instroom van de VS en het verdere buitenland. Met de gunstige wisselkoersen en de vele attracties in onze bestemmingen zal deze trend waarschijnlijk aanhouden, zodat de vooruitzichten voor de rest van het jaar gunstig zijn.”

 




Bed & Bike elke 6,5 km

Rent a Bike Miselerland © Miselerland LFT

Wie zou ooit durven beweren dat fietsen alleen iets is voor doorwinterde sportievelingen? Fietsen hoort gewoon bij het leven, zelfs voor wie aan sport een broertje dood heeft. Het is niet alleen gezond voor het lichaam maar het zorgt bovendien, zeker als het gaat om een tochtje met familie of vrienden, voor een geluksgevoel. 91 “Bed & Bike” accommodaties verzekeren wielertoeristen van een professioneel onthaal.

Volop beweging in de frisse buitenlucht, de ontdekking van een weelde aan lokale fauna en flora en samen genieten van de beste dingen van het leven, dat is wat de 600 km fietspistes van het Groothertogdom voor u in petto hebben. Volledig verkeersvrij en voorzien van asfalt voldoen de fietspaden aan alle veiligheidsvereisten. Of u nu kiest voor een ontdekkingstocht langs de kastelen van Luxemburg, in de voetsporen van de pioniers de mijnensites gaat exploreren of erop uittrekt naar de rotsformaties van het Mullerthal, Luxemburgs Klein Zwiterland of de hoge plateaus van de Ardennen, overal wacht u verwondering en verrassing. Sommige trajecten laten zich heerlijk combineren met een boottocht op de Moezel of een rit met de trein. Wie jong is van lijf of beschikt over getrainde kuitspieren waagt zich wellicht aan een mountainbike avontuur over de vele, speciaal daarvoor aangelegde pistes. En u hoeft er zelfs niet eens uw eigen stalen ros voor mee te brengen: op vele plaatsen, vlakbij de fietsroutes, is het mogelijk een fiets te huren.

91 “Bed & Bike” accommodaties, van hotels en familiepensions tot campings en vakantieverblijven, zijn uitgerust met een beveiligde fietsenberging en bieden een service voor het drogen van fietskledij. ’s Ochtends staat er een stevig, gezond ontbijt voor u klaar waarna een bruisend nieuwe fietsdag aan uw voeten ligt.  Geografische kaarten en gidsen vindt u in de aangeduide plaatsen. Dat er ook fietsreparatiesets klaarliggen of desgewenst de nodige info over de dichtstbijzijnde fietsenmaker zal menig wielertoerist wellicht naar waarde schatten.  Ook campings reserveren exclusieve ruimten voor fietstoeristen en bieden een beveiligde fietsenbewaarplaats.

Meer informatie: http://bedandbike.lu




Skal to bring Worldwide Tourism Event to Miami

Mami FL – October, 2017 – Skal International, the global organization of Travel and Tourism leaders, has voted in its General Assembly recently in India, to bring its 2019 Skal World Congress to Miami and will sail on a Royal Caribbean seven night cruise in September, 2019.

David Ross, Executive Secretary – Treasurer of the Skal Club of Miami, presented the proposal with the support of Skal International USA.

“This is the first time that Miami will host the Skal World Congress.” said Ross, ” We are excited to have offered a cruise on the new Royal Caribbean international Oasis Class ship, Symphony of the Seas, which will sail from September 14-21, 2019″ he said. “The General Assembly unanimously supported the proposal just after the wake of a very difficult year for South Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean. We are very grateful.”

Holly Powers, Skal International USA President, commented, “The Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas can accommodate more than 1500 delegates to the Skal World Congress and can set a new record for a Cruise based Congress. Skal Clubs throughout the United States are thrilled that Skalleagues from throughout the world are supporting the region.”
The Skal Club of Miami was founded in 1950 and is known to be one of the most diverse Clubs in its membership, due to a broad base of national backgrounds and a reflection of Miami’s status as an International Community.

For information on Sponsorship opportunities and general information, contact: David Ross at skalmiami@yahoo.com.

https://www.skal.org/




President Tsai hoping to boost military ties with Taiwan’s allies

Taipei, Oct. 19 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) told a group of senior military and police officers from Latin America and the Caribbean on Thursday that Taiwan is looking forward to deepening military exchanges and cooperation with other countries, particularly its diplomatic allies.

In a rapidly changing world, no country can face multiple challenges alone and must seek cooperation with others, Tsai told the officers from the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Paraguay — all Taiwan’s diplomatic allies — and Peru.

Under Taiwan’s military diplomacy policy, it is hoping to build military exchanges and cooperation with its allies through actions such as increased exchange visits by senior military personnel, military training and information sharing, she said.

Tsai said that since she took office in May 2016, exchange visits by high-ranking officials of Taiwan and its allies have become more frequent.

She also expressed gratitude to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies for their support of the country’s efforts to participate in international organizations and programs.

(By Yeh Su-ping and Evelyn Kao)
Enditem/pc




5 Russian operas that every cultured person should know and see

by ANNA GALAYDA – Russia Beyond
Mezzo-soprano Maria Maksakova performs Tchaikovsky’s opera ‘The Queen of Spades’ at the Mariinsky Theater – Ruslan Shamukov/TASS
While the Russian ballet has for more than a century enthralled audiences around the globe, the country’s opera heritage has only recently achieved worldwide acclaim.

Russian operas have always been difficult to perform – they require not only command of a difficult language but also powerful voices, nonstandard vocalization and a strong dramatic performance. Nevertheless, in the past two decades they have established themselves on the world stage and their popularity is growing. Russia Beyond chose five operas that are currently performed, or will soon be performed, in different theaters of the world.

1. ‘Ruslan and Lyudmila’ – Mikhail Glinka

 

In the history of Russian music Glinka is regarded as the first national composer and creator of the first Russian operas. Of course, there is a certain exaggeration in this claim. In the 18th century, music by Dmitry Bortniansky and Yevstigney Fomin were performed even in Italy. But the first Russian composers sought to master foreign traditions. Glinka appropriated it and used it to express the Russian spirit. Poet Alexander Pushkin gave Glinka the idea to write an opera based on his popular poem, Ruslan and Lyudmila. But Pushkin died soon afterwards, and the writing of the libretto took much effort and a lot of time.

Despite the fact that the opera was much awaited, its premiere on the stage of the Bolshoi Kamenny Theater in St. Petersburg in 1842 failed to impress. Only gradually did the public come to appreciate this fairytale about life in Ancient Rus, as well as the elegance and inexhaustible variety of the melodies, the beauty of the orchestral instrumentation and the ingenuity of a large ensemble of soloists.

For more than a century Ruslan and Lyudmilawas one of the most popular titles in the repertoire of Russian theaters. Nowadays, it’s not only difficult to mount a production of a five-act opera, but it’s not easy to spend five hours sitting and listening to it. Nevertheless, a full house was guaranteed when Valery Gergiev was in charge of the production at the Mariinsky Theater and Anna Netrebko sang the part of Lyudmila, or when Dmitri Tcherniakov’s staging of the opera was performed at the gala premier of the original stage of the Bolshoi Theater after years of renovations.

2. ‘Boris Godunov’ – Modest Mussorgsky

This opera has had six editions, and many various orchestrations. It reflects the complex fate of Godunov and its creator, composer Modest Mussorgsky, who was inspired by Alexander Pushkin’s eponymous poem and passages from History of the Russian State by Nikolay Karamzin. That famous book is devoted to Russia’s first elected tsar who ruled in the late 16th century and early 17th.

Mussorgsky needed a year to compose the four-act opera in 1869, and he was devastated when the Directorate of Imperial Theaters rejected it. Five years later, after numerous changes, Boris Godunov premiered at the Bolshoi Kamenny Theater in St. Petersburg, where it also failed to garner much success.

Godunov had its triumph in 1898 when it was staged at the Solodovnikov private theater in Moscow with legendary singer Feodor Chaliapin in the main role. There was an exceptional harmony between the powerful opera and the brilliant performer. Chaliapin also triumphed in the production of Boris Godunov in Paris when Sergei Diaghilev introduced the Russian theater to Europe for the first time. Since then, Mussorgsky’s opera has become a phenomenon not only in Russian music but also in world music.

In June and July 2018, it will again appear on the stage of Opéra Garnier in Paris under the baton of Russian conductor Vladimir Jurowski in a production by Belgian director Ivo van Hove.

3. ‘The Queen of Spades’ – Pyotr Tchaikovsky

The Queen of Spades is an astonishing opera primarily because just 11 months passed from the moment when the composer penned the first notes to its premiere on stage. The 50-year-old Tchaikovsky wrote it in Florence in a villa rented for him by his benefactor, Nadezhda von Meck, on a wave of general appreciation and love. The source of his inspiration is tangible almost a century and a half later.

The opera was based on the eponymous story by Pushkin. But as was the case with Tchaikovsky’s earlier opera, Eugene Onegin, his brother Modest, in writing the libretto, made significant changes to the personalities and motivation of Pushkin’s protagonists, and made the conflicts more in line with 19th century melodramatic operatic tradition. From a cold and calculating cynic, Herman, the main character, was transformed into an ardent, amorous personality who falls prey to unbridled passion. Also, the setting of The Queen of Spades was transposed from Pushkin’s time to the 18th century.

The premiere took place at the Mariinsky Theater in 1890. Almost from the beginning it was acclaimed as a jewel of the Russian repertoire, and its arias and other pieces were played at musical evenings in concert halls and domestic salons. In 1902, Gustav Mahler staged it at the Vienna Court Opera, and in 1904 the young Sergei Rachmaninoff conducted The Queen of Spades at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. Since then the opera has scarcely been absent from the playbills of leading Russian theaters, and abroad it has become the most successful and widely-recognized Russian opera.

4. ‘Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District’ / ‘Katerina Izmailova’ – Dmitri Shostakovich

The fate of this opera became a symbol of the relationship between art and authority in the Soviet years. The premiere of Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District, which is based on themes from a novel by Nikolai Leskov, was a triumph for the 26-year-old composer. Performances were staged almost simultaneously by Leningrad’s Maly Opera Theater (today the Mikhailovsky Theater) and Moscow’s Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theater, with the final tally running to 200 performances.

In 1935, Lady Macbeth was staged in Cleveland, Philadelphia, Zurich, Buenos Aires, New York, London, Prague and Stockholm. The year ended with a premiere at the Bolshoi Theater, which was visited by Joseph Stalin. In January 1936 the country’s main party newspaper, Pravda, published an article titled “Muddle Instead of Music,” which excoriated Shostakovich’s “naturalism.” The article was unsigned, but many people detected the style of Stalin.

Although the composer was not arrested or shot, Lady Macbeth disappeared from the Soviet stage for a long time. While performances were held in Venice, Zagreb, Dusseldorf and Poznan, in the USSR even Stalin’s death could not change anything. Only in 1962 could the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theater stage a second, toned-down and less audacious version. It was renamed Katerina Izmailova.

The original version of Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District returned to Russia in 1996 when it was staged by the Mariinsky Theater in St Petersburg. In 2004 the Bolshoi followed suit, catching up with the rest of the world, and today Shostakovich’s opera remains one of the most popular in the Russian repertoire and is performed on the most prestigious stages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=14&v=UI63TYQeU0Q

5. ‘War and Peace’ – Sergei Prokofiev

The Russian stage has always preferred epic historical drama to lyrical intimacy. The inspiration for Sergei Prokofiev’s masterpiece was the eponymous novel by Leo Tolstoy, although it also uses other sources, and the libretto incorporates verses by Russian poets of the 18th and 19th centuries.

The composer, who was always noted for his rapid work style, conceived War and Peace in the spring of 1941. In April 1942, the piano score was ready, and in the autumn, as the Second World War raged, work began to stage the mammoth opera at the Bolshoi Theater in 13 scenes.

The topical significance of the subject and the sheer scale of the score led to numerous revisions. The composer suggested to theaters that it be staged over two evenings, and in 1946 the first part premiered at Leningrad’s Maly Opera Theater, which was known as the “laboratory of Soviet opera.” But a government decree relating to Vano Muradeli’s opera, The Great Friendship, blocked the staging of the second part of War and Peace. Although 1947 saw the European premiere of the original version in Prague, the composer himself did not live to see a full-scale stage performance of War and Peace.

The opera was finally staged by the Maly Opera Theater in 1955, by the Stanislavski and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theater in Moscow in 1957, and the Bolshoi in 1959. Although Prokofiev’s epic requires dozens of solo performers and enormous choirs for the battle scenes, it is staged today the world over – from Florence and Paris, to Sydney and Buenos Aires.

Copyright Russia Beyond




La Semaine du Requin – du 25 octobre au 1er novembre à Nausicaa

NAUSICAA, Centre National de la Mer de Boulogne-sur-Mer

Depuis toujours, les requins ont une réputation de chasseurs sanguinaires, de mangeurs d’hommes ! Mais la réalité est tout autre : parmi les 500 espèces recensées à travers les océans, très peu sont en réalité dangereuses pour l’Homme envers lequel ils sont souvent craintifs et méfiants ! Placés tout en haut des chaînes alimentaires marines, ils jouent ainsi un rôle capital dans l’équilibre des populations animales. L’Homme est le prédateur principal des requins… le plus dangereux des deux n’est finalement pas celui qu’on pense.

Durant la Semaine du Requin, du mercredi 25 octobre au mercredi 1er novembre 2017, NAUSICAA sensibilisera ses visiteurs de façon ludique et pédagogique à travers des animations pour toute la famille, des rendez-vous avec les soigneurs de requins, des interventions par des spécialistes des requins, sur le plateau TV de NAUSICAA…

Depuis son ouverture en 1991, NAUSICAA présente des requins aux visiteurs ; plus de 140 individus sont actuellement visibles dans l’exposition, du requin taureau au requin léopard en passant par le requin zèbre et le requin gris.

L’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies a proclamé l’année 2017 : Année internationale du tourisme durable pour le développement.

NAUSICAA a choisi de s’inscrire dans cette thématique et souhaite montrer que chacun, dans ses choix de consommation et de loisirs, peut opter pour le tourisme durable. Il est possible de donner du sens et de l’authenticité à ces actions en s’orientant vers des activités encourageant la préservation des milieux marins et participant à l’amélioration des connaissances sur l’océan, les espèces marines, le climat ou les activités humaines liées à la mer.

La charte écotourisme requin défendue par Bernard SERET, évoquée durant la Semaine du Requin, montre l’exemple du tourisme durable.

NAUSICAA est engagé auprès de l’association MEGAPTERA afin de mieux connaitre et de préserver les populations de requin baleine.

MEGAPTERA est une association française dédiée à l’observation, la connaissance et la protection des mammifères marins et du requin baleine. C’est suite à la prise de conscience de la richesse, de la spécificité, mais aussi du manque d’indicateurs relatifs à ces populations de la région Océan Indien que fut élaborée la démarche MEGAPTERA, dont les maîtres mots sont : recherche, éducation et conservation durable. Afin de mieux connaître et mieux protéger le requin-baleine, l’association MEGAPTERA réalise régulièrement de la photo-identification, du marquage et des poses de balise sur ces géants des mers.

NAUSICAA et MEGAPTERA ont posé une balise sur un requin-baleine lors de la campagne de marquage qui a eu lieu en décembre 2016 à Djibouti, en Afrique.

La balise sert à l’étude de cet animal emblématique : mode de vie, migration, reproduction, de quoi étudier cette espèce à la loupe. Les scientifiques connaissent encore assez mal les migrations des requins-baleines. Grâce à ces deux requins balisés, NAUSICAA et MEGAPTERA ont pu obtenir différentes informations : profondeur, température, luminosité.

Du mercredi 25 octobre au mercredi 1er novembre 2017.

Rencontre avec un soigneur de requins sur le plateau TV de NAUSICAA.

Tous les jours, un soigneur de requins viendra à la rencontre des visiteurs de NAUSICAA pour leur expliquer les différentes facettes de son métier, notamment les plongées avec ces animaux. Il abordera également la fragilité des requins, leur rôle dans l’écosystème et l’importance d’une politique de conservation de ces animaux.

Nourrissages des requins et plongées par les soigneurs-plongeurs de NAUSICAA.

Pendant toute la semaine, du mercredi 25 octobre au mercredi 1er novembre, les soigneurs-plongeurs réaliseront des plongées dans les bassins. Venez découvrir ces plongées commentées par un soigneur qui vous expliquera comment se préparent et s’effectuent ces opérations nécessaires pour nettoyer les vitres du bassin, vérifier l’agencement des décors et la bonne santé des pensionnaires. Toute la semaine, les visiteurs de NAUSICAA pourront également assister aux nourrissages des requins dans le bassin Mer Ouverte, dans le lagon tropical ou encore dans le bassin californien.

Du samedi 21 octobre au jeudi 2 novembre 2017.

Emission spéciale et quiz sur les requins sur le plateau TV de NAUSICAA.

Apprenez-en plus sur les requins au travers de reportages et de directs avec des passionnés et tentez de remporter une dent de requin en participant au quiz sur les requins !

Mercredi 25 octobre 2017 à 15 h 00, sur le plateau TV de NAUSICAA.

Rencontre avec un soigneur de requins et Bernard SERET, océanographe scientifique.

Océanographe biologiste de formation, Bernard SERET est ichtyologiste, chercheur de l’Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) et biologiste marin au Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) retraité. Il étudie la biodiversité de groupe de poissons depuis presque 30 ans, a participé à de nombreuses expéditions et campagnes de recherche et est l’auteur d’environ 200 publications, incluant la description de 44 espèces nouvelles, ainsi que d’ouvrages grand public. Ses travaux concernent aussi la biologie et la pêche des requins et des raies. De par son expertise, il conseille les structures nationales et internationales et a notamment participé à l’élaboration de plusieurs plans d’action pour la gestion et la conservation des populations de requins.

Mercredi 25 octobre 2017 à partir de 19 h 00, salle Océan Atlantique de NAUSICAA.

Conférence grand public « Les requins et le tourisme durable ».

Karin MALLET, Responsable tourisme pour les Bahamas, Bernard SERET, spécialiste des requins, Daniel JOUANNET, de l’association MEGAPTERA et Ludwig COULIER, soigneur de requins à NAUSICAA interviendront le mercredi 25 octobre 2017, à partir de 19 h 00 lors d’une conférence sur le thème « Les requins et le tourisme durable » à NAUSICAA.

Cette conférence sera l’occasion pour les professionnels de démontrer au public que le requin a sa place dans l’écosystème et que le tourisme durable, thématique de l’année 2017, a un rôle important dans la préservation des espèces de requins.

La charte de l’écotourisme-requin défendue par Bernard SERET et Steven SURINA montre l’exemple de l’importance du tourisme durable. http://www.sharkeducation.com/charteecotourismerequin/

Les plongeurs et les opérateurs peuvent volontairement adopter des règles permettant de pratiquer une activité ludique et éducative tout en respectant l’environnement dans laquelle elle se pratique. Ainsi, dans le même esprit que la Charte internationale du plongeur responsable, et compte tenu des expériences respectives des membres de l’APECS, l’association propose une Charte internationale de l’écotourisme-requin responsable. Cette charte s’adresse particulièrement aux opérateurs, mais aussi aux plongeurs qui la soutiendront en choisissant les opérateurs qui y adhèrent.

Karin MALLET GAUTIER, directrice de l’Office de tourisme des Bahamas expliquera en quoi le tourisme durable autour des requins est un atout pour les Bahamas.

Ludwig COULIER et Daniel JOUANNET parleront de la campagne de marquage 2016 sur un requin baleine. En octobre 2015, NAUSICAA et l’association MEGAPTERA ont mis en place un financement participatif pour la pose d’une balise sur le plus grand poisson du monde, le requin-baleine.

Cette opération a été couronnée de succès et un soigneur-plongeur de NAUSICAA, Ludwig COULIER, a posé cette balise avec l’équipe MEGAPTERA, lors de la campagne de marquage 2016, qui avait lieu du 17 au 24 décembre 2016, à Djibouti, en Afrique.

Conférence grand public sur inscription auprès du service Ressources Documentaires de NAUSICAA par téléphone au +33.3.21.30.99.99 ou par e-mail à documentation@nausicaa.fr ou inscription en ligne : https://goo.gl/forms/pvB8j54iEEOxbbku1

Jeudi 26 octobre 2017 sur le plateau TV de NAUSICAA.

Rencontre avec un soigneur de requins et Daniel JOUANNET, membre de l’association MEGAPTERA.

Daniel JOUANNET évoquera le marquage des requins-baleines dans l’Océan Indien. Des scientifiques tentent, année après année, de mieux connaitre le requin-baleine, un poisson hors norme.

Balise, identification, marquage, prélèvement ADN : l’ensemble des technologies actuelles est utilisé pour que le requin baleine livre enfin ses secrets car mieux le connaitre c’est aussi mieux protéger cet animal et son milieu… Daniel JOUANNET mettra l’accent sur le marquage d’un requin-baleine mis en place avec NAUSICAA en janvier 2016. http://www.nausicaa.fr/pose-d-une-balise-sur-un-requin-baleine-a-djibouti.html.

Vendredi 27 octobre 2017 à partir de 16 h 30 dans le hall de NAUSICAA.

Séance de dédicace de Nancy GUILBERT, auteur du livre « Opération requin, enquête à l’aquarium de Boulogne-sur-Mer ».

Depuis juin 2017, un nouveau livre est à découvrir en librairie : « Opération requin, enquête à l’aquarium de Boulogne sur Mer » un roman policier pour les jeunes lecteurs dont l’action se déroule à NAUSICAA.

Le jeudi 26 octobre 2017, Nancy GUILBERT sera présente dans le hall de NAUSICAA afin de parler de ce roman au public.

« Une semaine fantastique se profile pour Nell, Ylan et Théo, 11 ans : ils ont gagné un concours pour découvrir les coulisses du centre NAUSICAA à Boulogne-sur-Mer. Plonger dans le secret des océans est un rêve pour eux ! Pourtant, lorsqu’ils arrivent à l’aquarium, leur enthousiasme faiblit : Axel, un soigneur censé les accompagner durant tout leur séjour, fait grise mine. Blue Moon, une femelle requin qui attend des bébés, a été volontairement blessée. Le coupable n’est pas un autre poisson mais un humain. Qui peut lui en vouloir et pourquoi ? Pour les Trois Mousquetaires, une nouvelle enquête commence. »

Vendredi 27 octobre 2017 de 14 h 30 à 16 h 00.

Atelier d’écriture pour les enfants à la Médiathèque de NAUSICAA.

Le vendredi 27 octobre 2017, le Labo des Histoires Hauts-de-France propose un atelier d’écriture créative gratuit destiné aux enfants âgés entre 8 et 12 ans, animé par Nancy GUILBERT.

Cet atelier sera centré autour du thème du roman « Opération Requin », autour de la mer, l’environnement ou encore de la protection animale.

Atelier gratuit, limité à une dizaine de participants, sur inscription auprès du Labo des Histoires par e-mail à hauts-de-france@labodeshistoires.com

Samedi 28 octobre 2017 sur le plateau TV de NAUSICAA.

Rencontre avec un soigneur de requins et un intervenant de l’APECS – Association Pour l’Etude et la Conservation des Sélaciens.

Un intervenant de l’APECS viendra parler du requin pèlerin, une espèce mystérieuse des eaux françaises à laquelle s’intéresse l’APECS depuis sa création. Il s’agit du plus grand poisson du monde après le requin baleine et le plus grand poisson de l’Atlantique nord. Il peut atteindre 12 mètres de long pour un poids d’au moins 4 tonnes !

Le requin pèlerin ne figure pas sur la liste des espèces protégées par la loi française. Il est cependant considéré comme une espèce menacée par l’Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature (UICN) depuis 1996. C’est pourquoi l’APECS s’intéresse à ce requin en réalisant des études : programme de recensement, marquage et autres.

Samedi 28 octobre 2017 de 14 h 30 à 15 h 45 dans le hall de NAUSICAA.

Animations gratuites proposées par l’APECS.

Dans le cadre du bilan des 10 ans du programme CapOeRa, l’APECS proposera des animations pour le grand public, le samedi 28 octobre 2017 dans le hall de NAUSICAA.

INFORMATIONS GENERALES DE NAUSICAA

Nombre de requins à NAUSICAA : NAUSICAA accueille plus d’une centaine de requins.

Nombre d’espèces différentes : une dizaine d’espèces de requins évoluent à NAUSICAA.

Les espèces présentes dans l’exposition de NAUSICAA : requin gris, requin taureau, requin nourrice, requin marcheur, émissole tachetée, requin tapis, requin léopard et requin zèbre.

Espaces des requins : Tous ces requins évoluent dans la zone « Mer ouverte », dans le bassin californien, dans le lagon tropical, dans le bassin tactile (et oui, les roussettes sont de la famille des requins), ou encore dans l’exposition « Histoires d’îles ».

Les plus vieux pensionnaires : Tout en sachant qu’un requin vit en moyenne 30 ans, 4 de nos requins dont 1 requin taureau et 3 requins gris sont présents à NAUSICAA depuis 1991.

Les naissances : Nous avons régulièrement des naissances de requins des côtes européennes (petites et grandes roussettes), et notre participation à divers programmes de reproduction devrait déboucher sur d’autres naissances prochainement.

En 2017, le couple de requins marcheurs (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) de l’exposition

« Histoires d’Iles », a donné naissance à de petits requins marcheurs très bien formés. Ces requins ont été placés en réserve aquariologique afin que les soigneurs puissent les nourrir et surveiller leur évolution.




Taiwan, U.S. sign MOU on defense affairs


Taiwan Defense Industry Association head Han Pi-hsiang (韓碧祥, front center) and U.S.-Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers (韓儒伯, front second right)

Princeton, New Jersey, Oct. 18 (CNA) Taiwan Defense Industry Association head Han Pi-hsiang(韓碧祥)and U.S.-Taiwan Business Council President Rupert Hammond-Chambers (韓儒伯)signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Tuesday to advance U.S. defense cooperation with Taiwan.

The signing of the MOU will not only boost collaboration on defense affairs between Taiwan and the U.S., but will also create an integrated platform for the association members to extend exchanges on defense issues with the U.S., said Han.

Under the MOU, which was signed a day after the U.S.-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference that took place Oct. 15-17 in Princeton, New Jersey, the two sides will foster industrial cooperation, arrange mutual visits by specialists in various fields, and facilitate mutual understanding and learning, he added.

Hammond-Chambers for his part revealed that a conference will be held in Taipei next spring to increase business opportunities in the defense and security industries in both Taiwan and the U.S.

The annual conference, hosted by the U.S.-Taiwan Business Council since 2002, serves as a crucial platform for U.S. and Taiwan to discuss national security needs, weapons procurement and defense cooperation.

(By Rita Cheng and Isabel Wang)
Enditem/J




Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Associations (AFECA) Annual Conference and Activities Hosted in Kaohsiung for the First Time

The Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Associations (AFECA), one of the most important international exhibition organizations in Asia, hosted its 2017 Annual Conference and a series of events in Kaohsiung on September 5th. The Conference was attended by over 150 exhibitors from throughout Asia, including representatives from the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), Philippines Department of Tourism, Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB).

Walter Yeh, President and CEO of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), who also serves as Chairman for the AFECA and Taiwan Exhibition & Convention Association (TECA), has expressed special thanks to Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Kaohsiung City Government, and TECA for their support and sponsorship in making the Conference possible.

On September 5th, a joint meeting was held by AFECA and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE), a US-based key global association for exhibitions. Chairman Yeh from AFECA and 2018 Chairman-Elect Daniel McKinnon from IAEE served as Co-Chairs to lead the discussion about exhibition industry development trends in Asia and America. CEO Arun Madhok from Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre was also invited for a seminar to speak about his experience of managing a convention and exhibition center. Interactions and idea-exchanges from convention and exhibition industry participants were very warm.

This year, the AFECA Conference, Asian MICE Forum 2017 (AMF), and Joint-IAEE Conference were all hosted in Kaohsiung, where important figures from the convention and exhibition industry across the globe gathered, greatly enhancing Kaohsiung’s international reputation. On the following day, AFECA hosted the AFECA Asia MICE Youth Challenge and AFECA Awards, where winners were announced.

AFECA is the only international convention and exhibition association in Asia that is founded by Asians. It was established in Singapore in 2005, while the first annual convention was held in Singapore in 2006. The Association’s purpose is to promote the development of Asia’s exhibition and convention industry, and to facilitate and establish standard operational practices. In addition to Taiwan, members comprise 15 countries/regions including Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Japan, the Philippines, Korea, and Thailand. Globally, AFECA has already become a representative of the Asian convention industry.

Copyright © 2017 Ministry of Economic Affairs




IHG® opens Europe’s largest Holiday Inn Express® in Cologne City Centre

InterContinental Hotels Group® (IHG®), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announces the opening of Holiday Inn Express® Cologne City Centre, the largest Holiday Inn Express® in Europe. 

The newly opened property boasts 323 rooms all featuring the next generation Holiday Inn Express design which balances home comforts with smart design features. Guests can enjoy sound absorbing headboards, bedside USB ports and flexible in-room working spaces. Free Wi-Fi and a continental breakfast buffet are also included in the room rate.

Ideally located, the hotel is walking distance to the Old Town or a short U-bahn ride to the famous twin spires of Gothic Cologne Cathedral tower. Within a short distance of Poststraße and Severinstraße U-bahn stations, as well as Cologne Central railway station. If flying in or out, Cologne Bonn Airport is only 25 minutes’ drive away.
Mike Greenup, Vice President, Brand Management for Holiday Inn Express commented: “At Holiday Inn Express we know what matters to our guests. Successfully delivering on that brand promise has enabled Holiday Inn Express to grow rapidly across Europe in recent years, and particularly in Germany. In 2017 alone we have opened 5, and signed 11, new Holiday Inn Express properties in Germany. The Holiday Inn Express Cologne City Centre is a great addition to that portfolio.”

Sonja Comberg, General Manager, Holiday Inn Express, Cologne City Centre commented: “Holiday Inn Express is designed for savvy travelers who want a straightforward, uncomplicated experience, delivered in an engaging manner. We support guests without hassle, without complication, without extravagance – but always with a warm smile. We’re extremely excited to open a new haven for travellers right in Cologne’s city centre and look forward to welcoming our future guests.”

There are currently 32 Holiday Inn Express hotels in Germany, and a further 29 in the development pipeline. In Europe, there are 239 Holiday Inn Express hotels with 60 in the development pipeline.

Across all brands, IHG now has a total of nearly 120 hotels open and in the development pipeline in Germany.