Basar poised to be tourist destination: DC

BASAR, 4 Dec: Leparada deputy commissioner Atul Tayeng said that Basar is poised to become a tourist destination.
“With the conduct of annual events like ‘Bascon & Brute’ in the district, the footfall of both local and foreign tourists will multiply in coming times,” the DC said as he addressed a ‘Homestay and Hospitality training’ for all the registered homestay owners and tour operators of the district, in order to upgrade their skills for quality hospitality services.
He advised all the participants to acquire essential skill and knowledge of hospitality from the training programme which was organised by the tourism department, in collaboration with the Leparada district administration on Tuesday.
Tayeng emphasized on the need of ensuring cleanliness, providing safe and comfortable environment for the visiting guests. He opined that tourism is fast becoming a major sector for self-sustainability as well as local economic growth.
SP Thupten Jambey informed the participants about the provisions of ‘Protected Area Permit (PAP)’ that is in place for foreign nationals arriving in the state. He asked the homestay owners/ tour operators to strictly comply with the guidelines and provisions under PAP.
Earlier, district tourism officer T.K Kopak urged the homestay owners/ tour operators to enhance their skill and knowledge through the training.
Hands-on demonstration on housekeeping was also conducted by the resource persons during the training. (DIPRO)

CM stresses on creating infrastructure to promote adventure tourism

TAWANG, 4 Dec: Chief Minister Pema Khandu emphasized on creating world class infrastructure and facilities to promote adventure tourism in Arunachal Pradesh. He called upon stakeholders to recommend practical suggestions specific to the state for the government to take action.
Speaking at the 16th Annual Adventure Convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) here on Wednesday evening, Khandu said that “for the government, money isn’t an issue to develop a world class adventure tourism ecosystem but the technical ‘know how’ is.”
He said that the government and its machinery alone cannot solely concentrate on this sector with its limited technical expertise, which, otherwise, has a huge potential especially in Arunachal Pradesh.
“Adventure enthusiasts and organizations, like ATOAI should come up with recommendations upon which the state as well as central governments can work on,” he said.
Khandu appreciated ATOAI for coming up with a booklet on adventure tourism scopes and maps for enthusiasts to plan their visits to Arunachal Pradesh. He expressed optimism that the six-day convention (from 3 to 8 December) will eventually come up with bright ideas and practical ways and means to take adventure tourism to the next level not only in Arunachal Pradesh but across the North East and the country.
 He said that the recommendations should be state and region specific for ease of implementation.
“I am with ATOAI whenever and wherever needed. Let’s work together and I assure my support and cooperation to you to make adventure tourism a top notch sector,” he assured.
Reiterating the state government’s commitment in promoting sustainable tourism, empowering local communities, and fostering a responsible tourism ecosystem, Khandu recommended the ‘high value, low volume’ model to promote, explore and develop adventure tourism in the state.
The aim, he said, should be to empower local communities through initiatives like homestays and skill development, and leveraging diverse ecosystems to make Arunachal Pradesh a model for responsible tourism.
“The vision should not be just to boost tourism numbers but to create a lasting impact that benefits the economy, preserves cultural identity and safeguards the environment for future generations,” Khandu added. (CM’s PR Cell)

Mint Primer: Are foreign tourists giving India a miss?

How many foreign tourists visit India?In 2023, foreign tourist arrivals in India grew 43.5% to 9.3 million from 6.4 million in 2022. However this was still significantly below the 2019 pre-pandemic peak of 10.9 million. In the first half of 2024, some 4.8 million foreign tourist arrivals have been registered. But though tourism typically peaks in the latter half of the year, it is unlikely to touch 10 million this year. India ranks 39 out of 119 countries in World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index. The US, Spain, Japan, France and Australia are the top 5 with India placed below China, Indonesia and Malaysia.

What are the reasons for the slow recovery?Global tourism took a significant hit during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 but recovered sharply thereafter. In 2023, international tourism reached 89% of pre-pandemic levels and in the first half of this year, it has gone up to 96% according to the UN. India’s tally during the same period was 9% more than in 2023 but was still around 10% less than in the first half of 2019. India faces strong competition from countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka that are perceived to be more tourist-friendly. Law and order, air pollution, and modest public infrastructure are some factors keeping tourists away.

Which is the top source country for visits to India?Bangladesh and the US are the top source countries accounting for nearly 40% of all foreign tourist arrivals, followed by the UK, Canada, and Australia. Nearly 45% visit India for leisure and recreation, while over a quarter belong to the large Indian diaspora. The national capital, New Delhi, is by far the biggest entry point accounting for 30% of tourists every year.

How has this impacted business?Tourism is a big contributor to foreign exchange earnings. In 2023, it generated revenue of ₹2.3 trillion, higher than the ₹2.1 trillion of 2019 even as footfall lagged, which means per capita spending of travellers has gone up. In the first half of this year, ₹1.27 trillion has been generated which is 29% more than the same period in 2019. According to Crisil, the spend per foreign tourist has gone up from ₹2 lakh to ₹2.7 lakh in 2024. Higher earnings are due to higher hotel tariffs and airline ticket prices, plus a weaker rupee.

Is anything being done to reverse the trend?Steps being taken include facilitating easy availability of e-visas and reducing the cost, promoting adventure and niche tourism and launching a 24X7 multilingual helpline. Over the past few years, around $1 billion has been spent to improve the tourist experience and upgrade infrastructure. Yet a lot more needs to be done, especially in simplifying and expanding visa-on-arrival, where South-east Asian countries have an edge and improving air connectivity with other parts of the world.

Mar-a-Lago remains a draw for political leaders, cabinet hopefuls and tourists

While President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team are busy at Mar-a-Lago coming up with new appointments to his administration, Mar-a-Lago is increasingly becoming a top destination for politicians, world leaders and others eager for face time with the president.Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew into West Palm Beach to visit Trump.Trudeau was there to talk about Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canada.The pair had dinner together in the Mar-a-Lago dining room, surrounded by other club members.Former Palm Beach County Republican Party Chair Sid Dinerstein says it makes sense that the president-elect is conducting business here and that people from around the world are flying in.”First off, he has to have an office — he’s not in the White House. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s happier doing the work here, and they’re happier doing the work here, you know, it’s 30 degrees where they come from,” said Dinerstein.Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg also visited Mar-a-Lago late last month and dined with Trump to talk about the future of artificial intelligence.As did Javier Milei, the president of Argentina — Milei is interested in pursuing a free trade agreement with the U.S.”And it’s so great having this headquarters for the world movement, and that’s what it is, so everybody — it’s not just Americans who want cabinet positions — it’s everybody,” said Dinerstein.Dinerstein points to businesses moving here and a boom in construction — office towers and condos going up, hotels filling up.It means more money for the county, but also more traffic and some headaches for locals.Dinerstein believes because of Trump’s fondness for Palm Beach, and the frosty reception he has received in Washington and New York in the past, means that Palm Beach is poised to remain a top political hotspot.”I will say he’ll be there a very, very substantial amount. He’s very comfortable there. Aside from that, he lives there. He’s very comfortable there. It’s a fabulous place for anything,” said Dinerstein.Trump will remain at Mar-a-Lago until he is sworn into office in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, so it’s likely we may see many more VIPs traveling through the Palm Beaches. Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25 Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

PALM BEACH, Fla. — While President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team are busy at Mar-a-Lago coming up with new appointments to his administration, Mar-a-Lago is increasingly becoming a top destination for politicians, world leaders and others eager for face time with the president.Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew into West Palm Beach to visit Trump.

What you can eat five times a week to fight diabetes, according to scientists

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreScientists have claimed eating a few pieces of dark chocolate five times a week while avoiding milk chocolate has been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.The connection between chocolate consumption and type 2 diabetes risk is “controversial”, according to researchers, although they highlight that most previous studies did not explore the difference between types of chocolate.These subtypes – dark, milk and white – have varying levels of cocoa, sugar and milk, which “may influence the association with risk of type 2 diabetes”, they added.For the study, the team used data from three long-term studies of nurses and healthcare workers in the US.The analysis of food frequency questionnaires taken every four years examined the link between type 2 diabetes and total chocolate consumption in 192,028 people, and chocolate type – dark or milk – in 11,654 people.The average monitoring period was 25 years.In the group whose total chocolate intake was analysed, some 18,862 people developed type 2 diabetes, which happens when the body does not use insulin properly, resulting in high blood sugar.Researchers found those who were eating a one ounce serving, or 28.3 grams, at least five times a week, were 10% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared with those who never or rarely ate chocolate.Some 4,771 people developed type 2 diabetes in the group analysed by chocolate type.Dark, milk and white chocolate have varying levels of cocoa, sugar and milk, which “may influence the association with risk of type 2 diabetes”

What you can eat five times a week to fight diabetes, according to scientists

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreScientists have claimed eating a few pieces of dark chocolate five times a week while avoiding milk chocolate has been linked to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.The connection between chocolate consumption and type 2 diabetes risk is “controversial”, according to researchers, although they highlight that most previous studies did not explore the difference between types of chocolate.These subtypes – dark, milk and white – have varying levels of cocoa, sugar and milk, which “may influence the association with risk of type 2 diabetes”, they added.For the study, the team used data from three long-term studies of nurses and healthcare workers in the US.The analysis of food frequency questionnaires taken every four years examined the link between type 2 diabetes and total chocolate consumption in 192,028 people, and chocolate type – dark or milk – in 11,654 people.The average monitoring period was 25 years.In the group whose total chocolate intake was analysed, some 18,862 people developed type 2 diabetes, which happens when the body does not use insulin properly, resulting in high blood sugar.Researchers found those who were eating a one ounce serving, or 28.3 grams, at least five times a week, were 10% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared with those who never or rarely ate chocolate.Some 4,771 people developed type 2 diabetes in the group analysed by chocolate type.Dark, milk and white chocolate have varying levels of cocoa, sugar and milk, which “may influence the association with risk of type 2 diabetes”

Japanese business delegation begins tour of Wood County sites

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – A delegation of Japanese corporate executives is in Wood County this week to tour local sites and learn about potential business opportunities.Wednesday, the delegation toured Hino Motors and will be having a welcoming reception at Discovery World.The delegation is made up of 18 representatives from companies in industries including high tech materials, the automotive industry, and corporate development.Wood County Economic Development Executive Director Lindsey Piersol said getting the chance to show these executives what the region has to offer is a great opportunity.“We, as a state, every year, different entities throughout the state go to trade shows, internationally and domestically, and we try to find companies to bring here,” Piersol said. “This is totally different because they’re all coming here for once, and so I think that part of it is exciting. We are competing with every state in the US, we’re competing with other countries for business, obviously. And so, anyone that we can get in our state or in our region is a win for us.”Tomorrow, the group will tour SOMAR in Davisville at the Polymer Alliance Zone and the Chemours Washington Works facility.See an error in our reporting? Send us an email by clicking here!Copyright 2024 WTAP. All rights reserved.

Business leaders share insights, advice at MaineBiz forum in Bangor

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Local leaders and professionals came together in Bangor Wednesday for MaineBiz’s 60 Ideas in 60 Minutes forum.“It is an opportunity for CEOs to gather and share their advice for business leaders on what’s made them successful, lessons that they’ve learned through their business career,” explains MaineBiz publisher Andrea Tetzlaff of the annual conference.The event featured a panel of six business leaders in six separate industries to discuss leadership strategies and skills they’ve gained over the years.Given the attendance of about 140 people, audience members also had to chance to make community business contacts.This opportunity for accessible networking and leadership advice comes at a great time for Bangor, says Chamber of Commerce President Deb Neuman.“We’re seeing an influx of new residents, which is also great for our economy, and we are seeing a growth in businesses,” Neuman shares. “We are seeing some change with business owners retiring and selling their businesses, but that is being really backfilled with new businesses opening up and starting in the region.”Reporting business news from all over the state, MaineBiz hosts 60 Ideas in 60 Minutes to showcase the rich resource Maine businesses have: Each other!Whether it’s managing a car dealership, an airport or non-profit organization, panelists are able to collaborate to identify key traits of a leader that extend beyond industry.The president of Good Shepherd Food Bank, Heather Paquette, says while this is her first time on the panel, she attended 60 Ideas in 60 Minutes as part of the audience in years past.“I think about it as this beautiful puzzle, right? We’re all unique pieces, and individually each member of that panel is a great leader, but when you put the group together, those puzzle pieces really come together,” comments Paquette of the conversation.Not only did the panel allow speakers to share their own advice, but gave them an opportunity to add a new leadership technique under their belt.Jose Saavedra, Bangor International Airport’s airport director, echoes this sentiment: “It was a great opportunity to also kind of do a test check and make sure that some of the things that I’m working with are on the right path.”Copyright 2024 WABI. All rights reserved.

Rate hires Connie Lindsay as SVP of mortgage lending in Washington

Top 10 mortgage lender Rate — previously known as Guaranteed Rate — announced a new promotion on Wednesday. The company named veteran mortgage professional Connie Lindsay as its senior vice president of mortgage lending in Washington state.

Lindsay is the latest addition to Rate’s evolving leadership team of experienced executives. She joins the company’s leadership team to further its presence and performance in the Washington market. According to Rate’s website, the company has 11 branches in the state.

Rate executive Rich Kamien praised Lindsay for delivering consistently in an unpredictable market.

Connie Lindsay

“Having cultivated a deep understanding of the mortgage industry over her years in the business, Connie brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of success,” Kamien said in a statement. “She has steadily demonstrated her ability to deliver consistent rates even in the most volatile market conditions. Her dedication to customer-centric service aligns seamlessly with Rate’s values of transparency, innovation, and competitive offerings.”

Lindsay also expressed excitement over the opportunity to help clients in Washington.

“I am excited to join Rate at such a pivotal time for the mortgage industry,” Lindsay said. “As the market stabilizes, I look forward to helping clients achieve their home financing goals with the support of Rate’s unparalleled technology and commitment to low rates.”

Lindsay’s career spans decades, starting with a role as a founding partner at Cobalt Mortgage. The lender was later acquired by Caliber Home Loans in September 2014, prompting Lindsay to continue her career as a loan consultant and sales manager there until December 2022. Most recently, Lindsay served as a mortgage loan officer at U.S. Bank.

“I’ve cultivated strong mortgage and real estate industry relationships and collaborated with sales professionals and customers with a wide variety of needs,” she wrote on her LinkedIn profile.

Rate is the second-largest retail mortgage lender in the U.S. The lender has 850-plus branches across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. D.C. The company has displayed a trend of tapping mortgage industry veterans to lead and innovate key business verticals. Late last month, it hired industry veterans Jesse Allen and Greg Pahel to lead its reverse mortgage division.

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