Bahia state, in northeastern Brazil, will receive a $50.8 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to further develop its tourism industry and boost employment.

The project, structured as a multiple works loan under the country’s PRODETUR Program, will invest in a tourism product and marketing strategy, focusing particularly on the state’s nautical and cultural heritage assets, institution-strengthening, improvement of basic services, and socio-environmental management at tourism destinations.

Read more: http://iadb.org/en/news/news-releases/2013-02-28/brazils-bahia-tourism-e...

Is it possible to develop tourism in a sustainable way in Burma, as the country seemingly transitions out of decades of military rule? That is the question on the minds of many, but bringing an inclusive and participatory approach to the military-led reform process in Burma is not easy.

Read more: http://www.dvb.no/analysis/pro-poor-tourism-can-lift-burma-out-of-povert...

Tourism entrepreneurs urged the government to amend the four decade old restrictions on trekking routes.

There are a number of trekking routes like Upper Mustang, Upper Dolpo, Lower Doplo, Manasulu and Rara lake trekking routes that are restricted areas. “The government should either declare the region as normal or reduce the royalty charged to the trekkers,” said a member of aviation and tourism department of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Rajendra Bajagain.

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http://www.thehimalayantimes.com

Central America will attend FITUR 2012 in order to inaugurate its Year of Sustainable Tourism, an initiative set up by the Heads of State and Government of the countries that make up the Region, namely Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. This measure makes part of the Region's Plan 2009-2013, whose purpose is to promote sustainable development through tourism.

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http://www.eturbonews.com

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Alberto Lim is eyeing community-based tourism as a means to fight poverty. This, after he addressed more than 600 governors, mayors, and local tourism officers during the opening of the three-day National Conference on Planning and Developing Community-Based Rural Tourism held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) recently.

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http://www.pia.gov.ph

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has more than doubled over the past year its pipeline of projects in climate change, biodiversity and land conservation, and international waters, under its partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Demand for projects that protect the environment  and promote sustainable development has been increasing over the past decade as countries expand their economic activity in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, energy and transportation. The IDB and the GEF represent an important source of funding and technical expertise for countries in Latin America and the Caribbean with limited resources to finance such projects.

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http://www.iadb.org

The studies presented here look at a small sample of the benefits that coastal ecosystems provide to the Dominican Republic. These ecosystems (a) protect white sand beaches in vital tourism areas; (b) provide habitat for commercial fisheries; (c) provide the engine for potential tourism growth in a small marine protected area; and (d) generate local tourism dollars in the southwestern part of the country. The studies highlight the contribution of coastal ecosystems to the economy and the need for greater investment in protecting coastal and marine ecosystems, including better management of marine fisheries, protection of existing reserves, and enforcement of coastal development guidelines.

Download the study (1.78 MB, PDF)
http://www.wri.org

The degradation of coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs and mangroves, could cost the tourism industry in the Dominican Republic nearly USD $100 million and threaten the livelihoods of Dominican fishermen who depend on these ecosystems for survival.

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http://www.wri.org

The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) will approve as much as $5 million in grants to finance as many as 10 new sustainable tourism projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The MIF, an autonomous fund of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that supports projects for small and microenterprises, will offer grants to finance the creation of small tourism business networks, train entrepreneurs in the region to offer high-quality services and market their services.

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http://www.iadb.org

Namibia is one of the most sought after tourist destinations in Africa, owing to its vast wildlife and natural resources. This is because the country’s parks and game reserves have enjoyed a long spell of no serious poaching, thanks to strong measures by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

A number of countries in Southern Africa have recently seen an escalation in poaching. Recent cases have shown that those involved have become more sophisticated in the way they carry out these illegal activities. In anticipation of an escalation of poaching, the Namibian Government has introduced a number of activities to counter the possible increase in illegal hunting.

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http://www.undp.org