Latest news with #localvisitors
Travel Weekly
2 days ago
- Travel Weekly
Waimea Canyon Lookout will be closed weekdays for safety improvements
The Waimea Canyon Lookout on the island of Kauai will be closed on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. as it is undergoes construction for safety improvements, according to Hawaii's Division of State Parks. The project is expected to last through December. Additionally, visitors should expect traffic delays and limited parking at Waimea Canyon and Kokee state parks, as roadwork projects on Waimea Canyon Drive and Kokee Road are ongoing. "Visitors can drive as far as the Kalalau Lookout, where improvements will also be initiated on July 17, with limited parking available," the parks division said in a news release. "We urge patience and driving with care as these various improvements are ongoing. Local visitors are encouraged to enjoy these parks on weekends when most work will be suspended."
ABC News
21-06-2025
- ABC News
Visitors still walking on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre months after foot traffic ban
Visitors to Australia's largest salt lake are continuing to walk on the lake-bed months after new rules came into effect that limited recreational access. The usually-dry Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is flooding in what some locals expect to be the most substantial fill in decades. It is also the first fill since a new management plan was adopted, which bans visitors from walking on the lake-bed and reinforces restrictions on driving and boating on the lake. ABC News visited Halligan Bay Campground on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre's south-western shore and witnessed several groups of visitors walking on the lake. The ABC did not see any signage advising visitors of the changed rules. An old sign that directed visitors to walk within 100 metres of the lake shore had been blacked out with tape by a local. A spokesperson for the Department For Environment and Water said signage would be installed at the site soon. "New visitor infrastructure, including interpretive signage, will soon be installed at locations such as the Halligan Bay Point Campground to ensure visitors are aware of new restrictions to accessing the lake bed," the spokesperson said. "Due to National Parks and Wildlife Service staff resources being required to assist the flood response at Innamincka and the re-opening of Witjira National Park, temporary signage advising visitors of the new restrictions has not been able to be installed to date." Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre was declared a national park in 1985 — a development that ensured the site was subject to various protections under South Australian law. According to the SA government, recreational activities "including swimming, driving off designated tracks, boating and landing aircraft" were restricted as a result of the national park declaration. Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is a sacred site for the Arabana people, who were granted native title over land covering most of the lake in 2012. The Arabana people co-manage the Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre National Park with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. "Lake Eyre or Kati Thanda is our home," Arabana Aboriginal Corporation director Colleen Raven Strangways said. "This is where my ancestors walked for over 65,000 years, this is where my ancestors lived, camped, had families. According to the current management plan for the national park, the 2012 native title determination gave "Arabana people certainty, and a major influence on what happens on their land". "Native title rights enable Arabana people to hunt and camp on their lands. They also have the right to negotiate with companies regarding any mining activities on their Country," the plan states. "It gives legal acknowledgement of what they have always known: this is Arabana Country." Arabana say their ancestors and spiritual beings live on the lake and it is where they get their law and spiritual learnings from. They wanted to limit foot and vehicle traffic to protect the lake-bed and surrounding ecosystem. "We don't want boating on there, we don't want people walking on there because when you walk on that lake, it stays there until the next big flood," Ms Strangways said. "It stays there, it doesn't go away … the ecosystem is so fragile and so important to the health of that lake and to the health of its people, my people, the Arabana people. "We want you to come, enjoy it, but show respect." National Parks and Wildlife district ranger, Travis Gotch, said restricting boating on the lake during floods will also protect wildlife. "We've got a number of birds obviously breeding on the islands, they're there because they don't want to be disturbed," Mr Gotch said. "You've got birds that are flying all the way from Siberia to undertake a major breeding event that are listed as endangered globally … they don't want to be being bothered and we're trying to keep that sustained for them and protected as well." Additionally, the Arabana and National Parks and Wildlife Service say walking, driving and boating on the lake is a safety issue. The vast size of the lake-bed and lack of mobile coverage means once visitors lose sight of land, there is no way to orient themselves. "It's a safety issue and we're responsible as Arabana people, we are responsible for you when you're on our country," Ms Strangways said. Lake Eyre Yacht Club members sail on usually-dry rivers and lakes in the outback during rare moments they are flooded with water. The club's commodore Bob Backway has been an outspoken critic of limiting walking and boating activities on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre. Mr Backway says members adhere to rules to protect the wildlife and environment. "Lake Eyre is a sacred spot for all Australians, it's a very big bird breeding ground, we don't want it to be environmentally destroyed," he said. The Arabana Aboriginal Corporation says they want people to visit Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre, but to do so in a mindful way. "We're not stopping people from coming, we invite people to come, we want you to," Ms Strangways said. "We want people to enjoy it just as much as us, however, we are asking people not to go onto the lake. Mr Backway would not be drawn on whether the yacht club had plans to sail on the lake once floodwaters had reached an appropriate level. He did question the ability of National Parks and Wildlife Service to police the restrictions on the lake-bed. "I can't imagine a ranger walking onto the beach at Halligan Point and ordering 100 people off a beach," Mr Backway said. Mr Gotch said the service would be monitoring activity on the lake ahead of the fill. "There are expiations for people on the lake, for boating on the lake, and where people are caught, it will be enforced and there's further penalties as well for further non-compliance," he said.
CNA
12-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Some Singapore attractions see less local visitors this June school holidays
SINGAPORE: Some attractions in the nation are seeing a dip in local visitors this June school holidays compared with the same period last year. Snow City Singapore, for instance, has experienced a 20 per cent on-year drop in visitors in the first 10 days of the month. Its general manager Norazani Shaiddin said the strong Singapore dollar could have enticed more holidaymakers to travel abroad this year. 'Maybe it is due to new pockets of attractions that have surfaced in the neighbouring (cities) like Johor Bahru. Perhaps people can go as far as up to Korea due to very affordable airfares for them to travel,' he told CNA. Locals currently make up 55 per cent of customers visiting the snow centre, up from about 35 per cent three years ago, said Mr Norazani. He added that the facility is working on new experiences to attract patrons. Snow City previously refreshed its offerings by launching a three-storey high revamped luge area last October. It also added a gallery in February this year featuring ice sculptures. Additionally, it has introduced combined ticket packages that offer joint admission with the Science Centre Singapore, located next door. The snow centre is among local attractions exploring new initiatives and unique experiences to entice customers as they seek to improve footfall. DEALS AND EXPERIENCES Over in Boat Quay, Kulnari Mystery Golf is similarly looking at more varieties in its offerings after it experienced a 30 per cent decrease in total visitors on-year for the June holiday period. Locals make up approximately 80 per cent of its customer base. The miniature golf course said it is seeking to improve business by providing a space for corporate team-building events and tapping into growing demand for Instagram-worthy experiences. It also has a bar on its premises for cocktail workshops or for patrons to dine after playing its signature 1920s-themed murder mystery miniature golf game. At the Museum of Ice Cream in Dempsey, ticket deals, annual memberships and events are offered to encourage return visits. The attraction reopened two months ago following a revamp. New features include a refresh of some of its 14 different interactive rooms for visitors to explore and five buffet stations offering unlimited servings of 19 different flavours of ice cream. It also conducts ice cream making classes and offers venue rental packages for parties, corporate events and team-building workshops. The museum is currently offering promotional ticket prices for Singapore residents and updated pricing for its annual membership programme that is open to all visitors. A new ticket category was also introduced as part of the revamp, with VIP passes allowing visitors express entry to the attraction, as well as a gift bag and access to activities conducted by the museum. While local visitor numbers have remained steady, the firm's head of revenue and growth Prakash T. said the museum tries to encourage patrons to visit again. 'I would say most people have been here … at least once, but to get them coming back again, that's when we do (a) refresh,' said Mr Prakash.
