Latest news with #Tourism
The Age
4 hours ago
- Climate
- The Age
One fish, two fish, 35,000 fish: Rainbow trout released for school holiday anglers
They wiggled and squirmed as thousands of them splashed their way to freedom. Big white buckets full of rainbow trout were hauled into Karkarook Park Lake in Melbourne's south-east on Saturday by keen fishermen and women. Two thousand of the fish species found their new home in Heatherton's icy lake. They are among 35,000 fish being added to 70 lakes across Victoria, with the aim of getting kids off their screens and into the great outdoors during the school holidays. The ready-to-catch rainbow trout – which are ideal for beginner anglers and can be caught with lures cast from the shore – are part of the $96 million Go Fishing and Boating plan. Victoria stocks more fish than any other state or territory. Steve Dimopoulos, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, said the fish were being distributed in time for the school holidays. 'We are saying come to your local waterway, you don't need an expensive boat, you just need a rod,' he said. 'You'll catch a fish in Victoria more than anywhere else in Australia.' The release follows on from former premier Daniel Andrews' 2022 pledge of $1.5 million over four years to give 95,000 free fishing rods to year 5 students, and all students at specialist schools. That program had varying levels of success: while some were excited to take up fishing, the ABC reported a number of students tried to re-sell the rods online.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
One fish, two fish, 35,000 fish: Rainbow trout released for school holiday anglers
They wiggled and squirmed as thousands of them splashed their way to freedom. Big white buckets full of rainbow trout were hauled into Karkarook Park Lake in Melbourne's south-east on Saturday by keen fishermen and women. Two thousand of the fish species found their new home in Heatherton's icy lake. They are among 35,000 fish being added to 70 lakes across Victoria, with the aim of getting kids off their screens and into the great outdoors during the school holidays. The ready-to-catch rainbow trout – which are ideal for beginner anglers and can be caught with lures cast from the shore – are part of the $96 million Go Fishing and Boating plan. Victoria stocks more fish than any other state or territory. Steve Dimopoulos, the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, said the fish were being distributed in time for the school holidays. 'We are saying come to your local waterway, you don't need an expensive boat, you just need a rod,' he said. 'You'll catch a fish in Victoria more than anywhere else in Australia.' The release follows on from former premier Daniel Andrews' 2022 pledge of $1.5 million over four years to give 95,000 free fishing rods to year 5 students, and all students at specialist schools. That program had varying levels of success: while some were excited to take up fishing, the ABC reported a number of students tried to re-sell the rods online.
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Liew: Avoid over-commercialisation in Sabah's tourism development
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's approach to tourism development must avoid the pitfalls of over-commercialisation, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew. Liew also cautioned against uncontrolled visitor numbers that could harm the environment or cultural assets over time. "As one of the speakers mentioned, we should focus on value rather than volume when it comes to tourism. "We do not want to experience over-tourism or over-marketing. I read a book that warns tourism players and countries not to oversell their tourism packages, as it may not yield the kind of positive effect they are hoping for," she said after launching the Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Expo at a shopping mall here. As such, the ministry is collecting visitor data and ensuring that the community is involved to avoid the negative impacts of mass tourism. To mitigate the adverse effects of mass tourism, Liew said the state would focus on sustainable tourism growth that benefits rural communities economically, including helping them rise out of poverty. She said that CBT is gaining traction in several districts beyond Kota Kinabalu. "Some very popular districts, when international tourists visit, they return home and talk about it. That attracts more visitors. We are now seeing growth in places like Tuaran, Tenom, and Kota Belud as well," she said. She attributed the success to strong collaboration with local communities, particularly in converting homes or products into tourist-friendly offerings. "When we cooperate with local people, assisting them in converting their houses or products into tourism attractions, it also brings in elements such as cleanliness, safety, and food hygiene. "They understand that to participate in CBT, they must meet these expectations, and I find them responding positively." In 2023, the 18 active CBT districts in Sabah generated RM6 million. This figure rose to an estimated RM7 million in 2024. "Our goal moving forward is to increase income through tourism to levels above the poverty line index. "We are also working closely with the Department of Statistics to assess how CBT contributes to gross domestic product and whether it effectively lifts communities out of poverty." Also present were the state Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, and Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer, Julinus Jeffrey Jimit.
Hans India
7 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Tourism Tech AI 2.0 Conclave: AP Star Hotels Association proposes key recommendations to CM
Vijayawada: Representatives from the AP Star Hotels Association met with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh, Special Chief Secretary Ajay Jain, APDCC Chairman Nukala Balaji, and APTA CEO Amrapali Kata as part of the Tourism Conclave Tech AI 2.0. The delegation presented their suggestions on tourism development, technology utilisation, and policy implementation. The delegation included prominent industry figures such as Prabhu Kishore (chairman, Novotel Varun Group), Gokaraju Gangaraju (chairman, Lemon Tree Premier), Malineni Rajayya (MD, Taj Vivanta), Muthavarapu Murali Krishna (MD, Fortune Murali Park), RV Swamy (President, AP Star Hotels Association), S Murthy Chitturi (General Secretary), Venkat (Vice-President), and Sharan Valluru (MD, GRT Grand Vijayawada). During the meeting, the association highlighted the benefits of leveraging AI-powered technology and digital tools in the tourism sector to enhance service quality and strengthen operational efficiency. The Chief Minister responded positively to the idea of partnering with the industry. A primary request from the association was to extend the full benefits of 'Industry Status' (including power, water, and property tax subsidies) not only to newly constructed hotels but also to existing star hotels operating in the State. While acknowledging that capital subsidies would apply only to new projects, they urged for recurring benefits to be equally applicable to all hotels. Additionally, the association proposed that hotels be classified under the 'Green Category' in environmental regulations, rather than Orange or Red. Both Chief Minister Naidu and Tourism Minister Durgesh responded favourably, assuring the delegation that their proposals would be carefully considered and addressed appropriately. The two-day conclave was spearheaded by SP Takkar, former Chief Secretary and Chairman of the Global Foundation for Sustainable Transformation (GFST). Delegates from various sectors were divided into six thematic groups, engaging in 3-4 hour discussions. All recommendations were presented to the Chief Minister by Ajay Jain (IAS). Notably, more than 150 MoUs were signed during the conclave. The AP Star Hotels Association affirmed its unwavering commitment to collaborate with the government to further strengthen the tourism sector in the State.
CTV News
16 hours ago
- CTV News
Canadian tourist dies in Dominican Republic, Global Affairs aware
Watch Global Affairs Canada says it is aware that a Canadian tourist staying alone at a hotel in Puerto Plata was pronounced dead by local authorities.
