Monthly Archives: July 2022

Vatuvara Private Islands Resort is located on Kaibu Island in the pristine Northern Lau Group of Fiji with its associated private islands of Vatuvara, Kanacea and Adavaci. Guests travel to and from the island aboard the resorts private Twin Otter aircraft and land on a concrete all-weather runway.

Freehold Islands package opportunity breakdown.

Vatuvara Island: 1,200 acres/USD 55,000,000

Kaibu Island: 800 acres/USD 65,000,000

Kanacea Island: 3,085 acres/USD 25,000,000

Adavaci Island: 102 acres/USD 7,000,000

Vatuvara Foundation included in the sale

Twin Otter Aircraft: USD 3,000,000

Total price: USD 155,000,000

KAIBU ISLAND

Kaibu Island is home to the Vatuvara Private Islands Resort in the Northern Lau Group of Fiji and its associated private islands of Vatuvara, Kanacea and Adavaci. This 800 acre island resorts land- based operations are run on solar and follow organic standards.

The improvements include the three secluded and luxurious seaside villas which have been meticulously crafted with natural textures and materials creating spacious and comfortably elegant environments offering extraordinary views of neighboring islands beyond the azure waters of the lagoon.

ADAVACI ISLAND

Nestled within Fiji's Lau archipelago and the scenic 'Bay of Islands', is the pristine freehold Adavaci Island. This freehold island has several white sand beaches, tropical gardens and views out to the picturesque lagoons and coral reefs. Adavaci Island is an impressive 102 acres of tropical land, untouched by commercial tourism.

KANACEA ISLAND

Kanacea Island is made up of seven volcanic summits rising to 259m, creating a lush, green landscape. This 3,085 acre island is circled by white sandy beaches, fringing reefs and a

large lagoon with deep water access to the remains of an old jetty on the north eastern side of the island.

VATUVARA ISLAND

This island is a stunning unspoiled 1,200 acre freehold island covered in overgrown forest over karst limestone, with a prominent vertical 1,000 ft summit. It has outstanding white sandy beaches within a protected lagoon; no deep-water passage to enter lagoon. Surrounding coral reefs are abundant with marine life, being protected and preserved in their natural state.

This is the jewel in the crown and arguably the most beautiful island in Fiji. There is a caretaker in residence, home with solar and rain harvest water.

VATUVARA FOUNDATION

The Vatuvara Foundation is a registered local charitable trust with a vision to safeguard the regions marine resources for future generations and impact change in the local communities.

The Lau Group has been identified as an area of national significance and high priority for marine protection, and the Foundation demonstrates a successful model linking tourism with sustainable conservation activities.

The Vatuvara Foundation is committed to protect and revive the ocean through a network of marine protected areas and provide innovative ridge to reef solutions that promote awareness and empower local communities.

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Private Islands for sale - Vatuvara Private Islands - Fiji - Pacific Ocean

Seek out traffic-free islets across the continent, including options in Spain, France, Italy, Greece and the UK.

The last permanent resident of The Great Blasket left the largest island of this archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Dingle Peninsula in the 50s. It will be just you, a handful of other guests staying in the islands five traditional self-catering cottages and the seals sunning themselves on the sandy Tra Bhan. Forget traffic noise instead you will hear the wild crash of the Atlantic, the wind and the seabirds on this island, which is 5km from Dunquin on the mainland. Cottages sleeping four from 140 (120) a night, greatblasketisland.net

Littered with granite boulders, the frilly 15km coastline of this tiny island between Corsica and Sardinia is edged by clear, cobalt-blue waters. It is a low-key but glamorous French island with a distinctly Italian flavour, where electric golf carts, bikes and two feet are the only ways to discover its hidden coves and quiet beaches. Among the private villas, its only hotel, the smart Htel & Spa des Pcheurs, which used to be a boarding house for sailors, teeters over the water. Doubles from 340 (293) B&B, hoteldespecheurs.com

Untamed, natural beauty is what you get on the three uninhabited and off-the-beaten-track Islas Ces, off the Galician coast of north-western Spain. They form the National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia and the only way to stay on the largest of this trio reached by ferry from Vigo is to camp. Visitor numbers are limited by the authorities, but those who do come can lounge in splendid isolation on one of the castaway beaches such as the Isla Praia des Rodas and snorkel, kayak and explore the walking trails. From 8.90 (7.70) a night with tent or 53 (46) a night for a tent, lasislascies.com, campingislascies.com

Many a childhood summer has been spent inhaling the salty sea air and playing on the sandy beaches of the traffic-free island of Juist a slender finger of land that forms part of Germanys northerly East Frisian Islands between the Wadden and North seas. Also aptly known as Twerland, which translates as magic land, it is the simple pleasures here that enchant building sandcastles, paddling, exploring dunes and lounging in stripy basket chairs that are scattered along its broad beaches. juist.de

The Swallows and Amazons experience can be had at the tiny, private island of Shuna in the Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland. Dominated by the crumbling remains of the imposing Shuna Castle, the island measures just three-and-a-half miles long and one-and-a-half miles wide. There are kayaks and canoes to explore its coastline and each of the seven cottages, sleeping between four and 12, comes with its own boat. From 450 a week, islandofshuna.co.uk

Swedens answer to Italys Cinque Terre coastal path is the Kuststigen trail, which traverses a scenically diverse swathe between the island of Tjrn in the south all the way up the west coast to Oslo in the north. The newest section, the 27km Gteborgs Skrgrdsled leg, opened on 14 May and threads its way through the Gothenburg archipelago across the car-free islands of Hn, Fot and cker, which are all easily accessible by public transport from Gothenburg. westswedentrails.com

Privately owned Tresco in the Isles of Scilly is the quintessential low-fi UK holiday isle. This tiny, family-owned speck of land, measuring just two-and-a-half miles by one, is 25 miles off the Cornish coast from Lands End. With a collection of holiday cottages, houses and 16 newly redone guestrooms at its New Inn, a highlight is the Tresco Abbey Garden, established in the 19th century and a verdant haven of more than 20,000 plants and 4,000 specimens from more than 80 countries around the world. Doubles at the New Inn from 185 B&B, tresco.co.uk

An hour by ferry north-west of Dubrovnik, lying in the sparkling waters of the Adriatic, is the traffic-free Lopud, one of the largest of the Elaphiti archipelago. Its pin-up is Sunj Beach, a golden crescent of sand, while the island is also home to one of Europes newest film and cultural events the Ponta Lopud Festival (pontalopud.hr), held in June, which attracts A-listers such as the Coen Brothers. Lopud1483 is an eye wateringly expensive, restored 15th-century hotel with a world-class art collection and five bedrooms, but when guests are not in residence tours can be arranged (lopud1483.com

Parasol pine forests and vineyards criss-crossed by hiking and biking trails form an alluring mosaic on Porquerolles, a more tranquil take on the Cte dAzur. It is the largest of the three les dHyres, also known as the Golden Isles, which are surrounded by a marine park 10 minutes by ferry from the French coast near Toulon. Its craggy outline is dotted with cliffs, coves and pretty beaches edged by glittering seas. The Fondation Carmignac (fondationcarmignac.com) is a relatively new contemporary art institution housed in a restored Provenal farmhouse surrounded by Mediterranean gardens. Doubles at Auberge Glycines in the main town from 110 (95), auberge-glycines.com

One of the Aeolian Islands off the north-eastern coast of Sicily, Alicudi is the most remote of this volcanic chain, where its traffic-free status only adds to the feeling of serenity and seclusion. Donkeys transport visitors luggage from the small port lined with colourful fishing boats, up its vertiginous steps and slopes and interior blanketed by capers and prickly pears. Casa 3 Archi is a stylishly renovated Aeolian style self-catering house sleeping up to four from 135 (116) a night, airbnb.com

Donkeys are the main mode of transport on Hydra, which lies in the Saronic Gulf just over an hours ferry ride from Athens. It is an island dotted with more than 300 churches, where locals and visitors move around by foot or taxi boat to visit its more remote beaches and coves. Over the years its natural beauty and bohemian air have attracted a legion of devotees writers, artists and musicians including arguably its most famous one-time resident singer-songwriter, Leonard Cohen. Lined with stone mansions ascending up a natural amphitheatre, Hydra port is the place to pull up a chair at a waterside caf and watch the world go by. The Four Seasons hotel is right on the water, overlooking Vlychos Beach. Doubles from 235 (202) B&B, fourseasonshydra.gr). Self-catering Villa Birmisa has doubles from 110 a night, booking.com

The smallest of the Channel Islands, at just 1.3 miles long and less than half a mile wide, Herm lies three miles from its nearest neighbour Guernsey. It offers a complete disconnect among its flower-lined trails and high cliffs, with dreamy sea views, coves and sandy beaches. With a permanent population of just 65, the island is bestowed with a natural bucolic beauty and scattered with cottages to rent or you can stay at the islands only hotel, The White House Hotel. Doubles from 145 B&B, herm.com

Actually four small islands in one, Lyngr is a picturesque huddle of weathered clapboard houses off Norways southern Baltic Sea coast, known as the Norwegian Riviera. Only reachable by boat and popular with weekenders, this island of fewer than 100 residents was recognised as Europes best-preserved village in 1991 by Unesco for its historic houses, small lanes, rocky outcrops and sandy beaches. Be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the waves at the Lyngr Lighthouse, set on an islet by Tvedestrand. Run by the Aust-Agder Trekking Association, single beds in its hostel-style rooms from Nkr150 (12.50), ut.no, visitnorway.com.

Its crystalline waters are a big draw for divers, but the car-free island of Comino is also a haven of tranquillity. Midway between Malta and Gozo, with just a handful of residents, its star attraction is the Blue Lagoon. But the real beauty is to stay on the island and have it to yourself when all the visitors have gone. visitmalta.com

A short hop from the capital Tallinn, this is one of Estonias 2,222 islands. Its a protected nature reserve, dotted with historic and military remnants, the 12th-century Eerikneeme stone labyrinth and a diverse landscape that includes dunes, bogs, forest and beaches. Its peaceful pathways are a draw for hikers and those interested in nature. The self-catering Aegna Beach House sleeps between six and 12 people and costs from 250 per week based on six sharing. visitaegna.ee

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15 car-free islands in Europe where you won't have to worry about petrol costs this summer - iNews

July 7, 2022, 10:42 PM If you visit a cruise line's private island in The Bahamas, have you really visited The Bahamas?

That was the Niles family debate as we walked through the U.S. Customs line at Port Canaveral after debarking the media preview "Christening Cruise" of the Disney Wish. The fact that we had to clear customs to re-enter the United States answered our question - legally, at least. But while we all enjoyed our stay in what legally was Bahamian territory, none of us felt like we had left the Disney domain, much less visited a foreign country.

Our only port of call on our Disney Wish cruise was Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in The Bahamas. Castaway Cay provides a Disney-designed perfect day at the beach. No need to ride a tender over, Disney dredged a harbor that allows its ships to dock just a short tram ride or a reasonable walk from the beaches.

Cast members hand you a beach towel as you step off the ship, and thousands of beach chairs and recliners await you on the sand.

Plop down and enjoy the day on one of the family beaches, or ride the tram a bit further up the island for the adults-only Serenity Bay. You can swim in the seawall-protected ocean water, ride down the Pelican Plunge water slide, or rent some snorkeling gear, if you did not bring your own. (Disney has dropped a Nautilus sub from the old Magic Kingdom 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride down there for you to discover, among other nautical Easter eggs.)

Kayaks, paddle boards, and glass-bottom boat trips also await you, for an upcharge. Or you can opt for a massage in one of the cabanas next to the Serenity Bay beach.

Hungry? Lunch is included in your cruise fare and served buffet-style at Cookie's BBQ and Cookie's Too.

If you get thirsty for an adult beverage, roaming waiters will take your order on the beach, or you can visit one several open-air bars on the island. Don't bother with your wallet. Your room key is all you need, as drinks and other upcharges will be billed to your account.

All this convenience helps make a day at Castaway Cay feel like the ultimate beach get-away. You just don't feel the insecurity that you might on a public beach where you have to watch your things, including credit cards and cash. No one is running a hustle here, and no one cares if you have a drink on the beach. Heck, they'll even bring it to you.

Two moments illustrated the Castaway Cay experience for us. First, we all had a bit of a moment at water's edge when a stingray glided past us, just a couple yards away. One of my adult kids had gotten stung by a stingray in Malibu last fall, and the memory of that excruciating incident remains fresh. But Disney has removed the barbs from the stingrays at Castaway Cay, allowing guests to see and swim near these graceful creatures without risk.

Second, Laurie lost her sunglasses when doing a turn in the water. She didn't notice them missing for several minutes and figured there would be no chance of finding them in the surf 20 minutes later. But when she returned to where she had been swimming, there they were - easily seen in the shallow, crystal water, protected by Castaway Cay's seawall and left alone by other Disney Wish passengers.

This is not a normal beach.

And while that's a joy for anyone looking to enjoy a carefree day playing in the sun and the water, it can be a little disappointing to someone who enjoys the adventure of traveling to new destinations. Like Gertrude Stein's Oakland, there's no there there at Castaway Cay. As a place, it represents an ideal. There's no real history, no native or long-time residents, no home-grown businesses.

Norwegian Cruise Line created the first private island experience when it bought Great Stirrup Cay in 1977. Disney followed in 1997, when it signed a 99-year lease with the Bahamian government for the 1,000-acre former Gorda Cay, which Disney now calls Castaway Cay. Private islands allowed cruise lines to capture 100% of the money that passengers spent on drinks, equipment rentals, and excursions while in these ports. They also allowed cruise lines to provide a more secure, and thus potentially safer, experience that their guests would have in a public port of call.

For Disney's Imagineers, Castaway Cay provided a canvas upon which they could design the ultimate carefree beach vacation. And they did. Visiting Castaway Cay is a joy and a delightful asset to any Disney Cruise Line itinerary that includes it.

But sitting on the sand watching the ocean at the end of the day, I couldn't help but long for some more Bahamian flavor. Fortunately, Disney has felt that need from its guests and is working on a solution.

In 2019, Disney signed another deal with the Bahamian government, this time to take control of a portion of the island ofEleuthera, which will become the Disney Cruise Line's second private port of call, Lighthouse Point.

Expected to open in the next couple of years or so, Lighthouse Point will be designed to showcase Bahamian art and culture, much like the Disney Vacation Club's Aulani does for Hawaiian culture. (Imagineer Joe Rohde, who oversaw Aulani, also headed the Lighthouse Point project before he retired from Disney.) Work began in April on the project, which will include an Arts & Culture center, displaying works commissioned by Disney from Bahamian artists, along with family beaches and an adventure camp.

But why go to Disney's idealized version of The Bahamas when you could visit the real thing in Nassau or Freeport? Because, one might argue, you can't experience "the real thing" in those port cities any more. Foreign visitors, immigrants, and trade long have influenced the culture of port communities. But the modern cruise industry transforms port communities like nothing else in the travel business. How many jewelry stores and T-shirt shops does one port community need? Apparently, the answer in every port - at least, before the pandemic - has been "more."

Cruise ships also create enormous environmental strains on port communities. Disney boasts about its environmental efforts on the Wish, with its LED lighting saving 30 percent on energy consumption from lights, hydrodynamic hull and propeller design reducing greenhouse gas emissions by six percent, and liquefied natural gas fuel decreasing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 20 percent compared to traditional diesel or marine fuel. But the infusion of thousands of guests every day into a port community can strain infrastructure when that community has not or cannot design it to accommodate those crowds. That pressure creates environmental damage of its own.

Well-designed private islands can mitigate that damage by diverting tourists to destinations created specifically for accommodating them. But more calls on private islands can mean fewer at traditional ports, robbing them of the income that their residents need. Disney's deal for Lighthouse Point reportedly includes a commitment by the DCL to make more calls on Nassau and Freeport, not fewer - which Disney can do easily by increasing the number of ships it sails on Caribbean routes. (Two more ships are on order following the Wish.)

Beyond the physical environmental issues, Lighthouse Point gives Disney the opportunity to spend its money to commission art and cultural experiences that the free market in Bahamian port communities too rarely supports in the rush to sell more jewelry, T-shirts, and knick-knacks. Yes, that puts Disney in the position of gatekeeping Bahamian culture for its guests. But is that a worse option than watching access to Bahamian culture collapse under the weight of unguided demand for more chain restaurants and indistinguishable shops? Disney's Imagineers have boasted that Aulani contains the largest collection of contemporary Hawaiian art in the world. I would love to see a similarly robust collection for Bahamian artists on Lighthouse Point someday.

Let's not forget, though, that it was Castaway Cay that awakened that desire within me. Like any great entertainment, one day on that lovely beach left me wanting more. Not just more time on Castaway Cay, but more opportunity to discover The Bahamas, too.

* * *For more coverage from the Disney Wish, please see our round-up post: All Aboard the Disney Cruise Line's New Disney Wish.

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Can Disney Unlock the Key to the Bahamas? - Theme Park Insider

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have had a busy year and they are probably looking forward to a relaxing summer ahead. Prince William and Duchess Kate have taken on more duties lately, with the Duke stepping up as a delegate of the Queen.

The Cambridges will have the opportunity to spend quality time with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, now that their schools finished for the summer. George, eight, and Charlotte, seven, concluded studies at Thomas's Battersea on Friday (July 8), now having two months off before they move to a new school. Four-year-old Louis' nursery school Willcocks finished the year two days earlier.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are thought to plan to move from Kensington Palace to Windsor in order to be nearer to the Queen and to Kate's parents, who live in Berkshire. The family also have a countryside home in Norfolk, Anmer Hall, and it's likely that they'll spend some time there in summer. William has previously revealed: "We spend as much time as we can here, it's very peaceful."

READ MORE: Kate Middleton 'coordinates' her outfit with royal dog Orla while supporting Prince William in adorable snaps

The Cambridges will likely visit Balmoral - they usually head there during the summer to spend time with the Queen in her Scottish residence. But the family of five are said to be desperate to return to one of their best-loved holiday spots.

Last year, the royals visited the Scilly Isles, but this year they will be itching to return to a more exotic location, a leading royal expert has said. Ingrid Seward told the Sun: "They usually go up to Balmoral to spend time with the Queen and the rest of the family for a while and, this year, I think they will also go abroad for a short time, probably to Mustique, because William and Kate will want a change of scenery."

Ms Seward continued: "William and Kate havent been abroad much with the kids in recent years, apart from a trip to Jordan in the autumn, so I think theyll be itching to get back to Mustique this year."

Mustique is a Caribbean island, between the islands of St Vincent and the Grenadines, that advertises itself as "the quintessential private island paradise". The spot is popular with the rich and famous thanks to its privacy, peace and tranquillity with a no fly zone established over the island, and its lavish offering.

The Cambridges last visited the island in 2019 for Prince George's sixth birthday. They stayed at Villa Antilles, a four bedroom pad with butler, chef, housekeeper and gardener that can cost as much as 27,000 a week, depending on the time of year. The villa also boasts a private "powder room" for visitors.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton's summer plans: from Balmoral to secluded haven in the Caribbean - Cambridgeshire Live

Summer is here, U.S. re-entry restrictions are in our rearview and American travelers are beyond ready to embark on long-awaited vacations. And, the Bahamas is bound to be one of this years hottest destinations, thanks to newly eased entry protocols and a wave of new flights that make accessing the islands easy.

Spanning 100,000 square miles of some of the clearest ocean waters on the planet, the archipelago is a perennial favorite among those in search of blissful weather, tropical terrain, award-winning beaches, colorful coral reefs and pristine wildlife encounters, combined with the islands warm and vibrant Caribbean culture.

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The Bahamas Pares Down Entry Protocols From June 19, international travelers entering The Bahamas no longer need to apply for The Bahamas Travel Health Visa, regardless of their vaccination status. We acknowledge that the Travel Health Visa was a burden for travellers, and we are pleased to be able to eliminate it, Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, said in his June announcement.

All unvaccinated visitors aged two years and older still need to submit proof of a negative PCR or antigen test taken within three days (72 hours) of departure for The Bahamas; but vaccinated arrivals are no longer subject to testing requirements.

BahamasAir Relaunches OrlandoGrand Bahama Route From June 30 through September 10, 2022, national airline BahamasAir is making it super easy and affordable to reach Grand Bahama Island, with twice-weekly nonstop flights between Orlando and Freeport. And, Inaugural roundtrip airfares start as low as $297.

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Boating Flings Are in Full Swing This summer, The Bahamas Tourist Office will host a series of exhilarating Boating Flings, leading caravans of boaters across the Gulf Stream and into brilliant blue Bahamian waters. Event participants will get to partake in various activities, delight in delicious Bahamian cuisine and engage in authentic cultural experiences across the islands.

Festivals and Events Are Back Also back this year is Nassaus iconic Junkanoo Summer Festivalone of the Caribbean's most lively and colorful carnival celebrationsrunning every Saturday, July 2-30. Grand Bahamas Groombay Summer Festival will also return, running every Thursday, July 7-28. Would-be visitors can find details on many more summer events at Bahamas.com/events.

The Atlantis Paradise Island Music Series Atlantis Paradise Islands Music Making Waves concert series, benefitting the Blue Project Foundation, will feature live performances from big-name music artists like Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Ashanti; five-time Grammy nominee Robin Thicke; Grammy, ACM, CMA, and AMA Award-winning group Little Big Town; and Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow.

Disney Wish Begins Sailing To The Bahamas Disney Cruise Lines newest ship, the Disney Wish, is readying to set sail on its maiden voyage from its homeport in Port Canaveral on July 14. Thereafter, it will carry cruisegoers on three- and four-night voyages to The Bahamas, including stops at Disney's private island near Great Abaco, Castaway Cay.

For the latest insight on travel around the world, check out this interactive guide.

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, be sure to subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter here.

For more information, visit bahamas.com.

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What's New in The Bahamas - TravelPulse

By Francesca Fionda and Matt Simmons,

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

How long does it take to become a miner in B.C.? Less than the time it takes for a cup of coffee to get cold.

A reporter with The Narwhal brewed a coffee, then left it on their desk to go pick up a free miner certificate at a nearby government office. They filled in a form, handed over $25 and made their way home to find a location for their digital stake on the provinces website. By the time they were navigating the interactive map of claims staked and land up for grabs, their coffee was still hot.

In B.C., anyone 18 years and older who is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or authorized to work in the country can register and subsequently stake a mineral claim. Individuals need to have their identification verified by a government service desk, as The Narwhals reporter did, while corporations, which can also register and stake claims _ do not. Once registered and online, if an area of interest is available, you pay $1.75 per hectare for a mineral claim and $5.00 per hectare for a placer claim (which are deposits found close to the surface in loose sand or gravel, for example).

Data obtained by The Narwhal shows after the B.C. government moved the claiming process online, the area staked across the province increased by 70 per cent to 8.3 million hectares and has remained above or around that size over the past 17 years. And whether or not a mine is developed there in the end, these stakes still carry a toll for First Nations, private property owners, waterways and wildlife.

While The Narwhals reporter was able to use the tools of the 21st century to (almost) stake a mineral claim, the law that allowed them to do that goes back to the 1850s.

It was the start of the gold rush and B.C. was barely a year old.

The law allowed almost anyone to apply for a free miner certificate, giving them the right of free entry to look for minerals on a spot of land they stake. Todays Mineral Tenure Act is rooted in that same approach and critics say its to blame for many historical issues with mining in the province _ including infringing on Indigenous Rights, and running roughshod over the environment. The Mineral Tenure Act is one of the bedrock foundations of colonization in B.C. says Naxginkw Tara Marsden, who is from Wilp Gamlakyeltxw of the Gitanyow Huwilp. She has over 20 years of experience working as a consultant on Free, Prior and Informed Consent for land use planning and policy development for First Nations.

During B.C.s gold rush, settlers were given wooden stakes to claim plots of land for their own, without any negotiations or consent from Indigenous communities. Its where the phrases stake a claim and stakeholder come from.

Marsden says the law paved the way for people from all over the world to come in and access Indigenous lands without consent.

The speed at which digital claims can be made means the same thing is happening today.

There are few limitations on where someone can make a claim, though some parks, Tsilhqotin Declared Title Area and treaty settlement lands and reserves are off limits. According to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, more than 76 per cent of the province is open to mineral staking.

While other parts of Canada have reformed similar colonial mining laws, B.C. made the process even easier in 2005 when it went online.

It seems like its modernizing the process, but its actually making it even easier for people to establish what I would refer to as economic interests in unceded Indigenous lands without even notification to the Indigenous people, Marsden says.

Moving to the online system was an attempt by the province to revitalize the mining industry. Mineral Titles Online is just one small part of that whole procedure to bring that confidence back, that gusto, that zest that those miners bring to British Columbia in doing what they do so well; and thats going out on a huge land base and actually finding minerals, Richard Neufeld, the former minister of energy and mines, said when the changes were announced in 2004.

Exploration did grow to a huge land base. In the first three years after the process moved online, there was an exponential

increase in claims, says Nikki Skuce, director of the Northern Confluence Initiative and co-chair of the BC Mining Law Reform network.

The Narwhal obtained data from the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation on mineral and placer titles going back to 1997.

While the number of claims in good standing each year fluctuated alongside the price of minerals, its the amount of land staked that stands out to Skuce. In the years after the digital upgrade, the total number of hectares claimed jumped from 4.9 million in 2004 to8.3 million in 2005 and continued to climb to 14.5 million hectares in 2008. Thats an area more than 4.5 times the size of Vancouver Island.

Its also important to look at specific areas to see where mineral claims are, Skuce says. While the numbers show an overview of the province, there are areas that are likely seeing concentrations of mining claims. Skuce points to the Iskut River Watershed in Tahltan Nation territory as a hotspot for claims. In November 2019, mining tenures took up almost 50 per cent of the watershed.

There are dozens of YouTube how-to videos explaining the simple process. In less than three minutes YouTuber Canadian Gold Mining finds a spot and signs off with, thats it. Hit next and its yours! User meMiner explains in a 12-minute video tutorial for finding and staking a gold claim, I wanted to have a claim in B.C., so when I go out to B.C. this summer I dont have to ask permissions.

Once someone has a free miner certificate and stakes a claim, they have the right to access the area for exploration and development. That could mean using metal detectors, handheld tools to dig trenches or pits, or even setting up a temporary camp, according to the provinces policy on permissible activities.

But no work is necessary to keep the claim, explains Gavin Smith, staff lawyer with West Coast Environmental Law. When you obtain the mineral claim, it has a one-year expiry, but you can indefinitely renew the mineral claim for as long as you want. In order to keep the claim, you can either work it and register your efforts with the government, or pay a fee of between $10 and $40 per hectare in lieu of work.

There are a few restrictions on claim holders, including: they cant access orchard land or land under cultivation, heritage properties or an area within 75 metres of a residence. However, the restrictions dont stop someone from claiming mineral title on these lands, private property or even, underneath someones house, Smith says. Its not that you havent staked a claim there,

Smith says. You actually do technically own the minerals under their house. You just have statutory or legal restrictions on what you can access.

And once someone stakes a claim, they have the exclusive right to the minerals over everyone else, says Calvin Sandborn, Senior Counsel at the Environmental Law Centre at the Faculty of Law, University of Victoria.

Indigenous communities and rural property owners are facing the brunt of B.C.s outdated mining law.

In 2012, two individuals staked claims all over North and South Pender Island, including on private property.

The outrageousness of mineral staking on rural residential and agricultural lands in the Gulf Islands has the potential to bring home to the broader public and decision-makers that the time for modernizing the Mineral Tenure Act has come, wrote Jessica Clogg, Executive Director & Senior Counsel of West Coast Environmental Law, at the time.

In 2017, a group of First Nations women turned the tables by staking a claim on then-minister of energy and mines Bill Bennetts property. We wanted to show how ridiculously easy it is to stake a claim on someones land. This should give politicians and all British Columbians an idea of how unfair the process is, said Bev Sellars, chair of First Nations Women Advocating Responsible Mining, in a press release. Bennett responded lightly at the time that he got the message but, there is nothing to be found there. Theyve made a bad investment.

Sellars says she let the claim expire after a year. Looking back, she told The Narwhal, we made our point and we hoped that would be enough, but obviously it wasnt.

The staking certainly didnt stop there. In 2019, Marie Reimer and Doug Hallat were sitting outside, having a drink, when a man drove up and notified the couple he had papers staking a claim to mineral beneath their propertys soil, according to Kamloops This Week. The Kamloops couple was also left calling for reform.

Beyond the possible intrusion into private property, its contrary to rational land use planning because you can stake these claims in sensitive watersheds and areas that are environmentally sensitive, Sandborn says.

While they never ended up staking a claim, The Narwhals reporter scoped an area the province considered fair game for prospectors. It was on unceded Indigenous territory, unlikely to have any significant mineral resources and included wetlands and a creek that feeds into a salmon river. Since the reporter first looked at the spot and reached out to the Indigenous community in 2021, a Vancouver-based exploration company staked the area and hundreds of surrounding hectares.

Its pretty egregious that you dont have to ask permission from anybody to go stake and get rights on land, to go explore and potentially open a big mine, Skuce says.

Kendra Johnston, president of the Association for Mineral Exploration B.C., says only one in 10,000 exploration projects will ever become a mine.

On average, there are 250 to 300 exploration projects active across the province each year. The hope and intent to find a deposit that is economically and socially viable to be developed into a mine lies at the heart of any exploration investment. But finding a viable deposit is not easy and takes significant risk capital.

Discoveries that are capable of becoming a mine are rare and special finds.

But the process of staking can still be the source of many conflicts, Skuce says. Communities have different land use priorities or values for the area but anyone with a mining title can get in the way.

In 2016, the Gitanyow learned that warming temperatures in the Meziadin watershed were altering the habitat of sockeye populations.

As protected creeks where they had traditionally spawned became too warm, fish were found in creeks where rapid glacial melting kept water temperatures down. But those creeks were unprotected, and as the glaciers retreated, new areas were exposed, enticing prospectors to stake claims above the salmon watershed. This put both the unprotected creeks and the fish at risk.

Gitanyow wanted to expand their existing conservancy in the area but the process was stalled because of multiple mining tenures on the land.

We havent ever been notified, we havent ever consented to any of these mineral tenures, Marsden says, adding that the only way to change this is through reforming the Mineral Tenure Act.

Last August, the hereditary chiefs decided not to wait for the provincial government and declared creation of the Wilp Wii Litsxw Meziadin Indigenous Protected Area.

The current B.C. government has promised reform. In 2022 it published the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan. Action 214 commits the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation to Modernize the Mineral Tenure Act in consultation and co-operation with First Nations and First Nations organizations.

The ministry declined an interview request from The Narwhal.

B.C. has been particularly slow to change its process for granting mineral titles. For years there has been report after report and ongoing calls to change this law. The long-held identity of B.C. as a gold-rush province and the disproportionate amount of political power in the hands of the mining industry, has held reform back, Sandborn says.

Other jurisdictions have moved away from the free entry system and either added the consent of private property owners and Indigenous peoples or excluded mining claims in certain areas, Sandborn says. He adds B.C. should follow those examples.

In Ontario, for example, amendments were made to mining laws in2012 to require consultation with First Nations. Anyone seeking to make a claim also has to take an online course intended to raise awareness of the importance of considering other users of public land.

In Quebec, municipalities and regional governments can set no-go zones in land use plans. Property owners also have to give consent before any exploration work is done on their land.

Similar to B.C., the Yukon adheres to a free entry system that has been heavily criticized by conservationists and First Nations.

In 2012, the Court of Appeal of Yukon ruled the government has a duty to notify, consult and accommodate the Ross River Dena before any mining exploration happens in their territory. As the Yukon Government works to update its mining laws, Carcross/Tagish First Nation, for one, has called for the free entry system to be abolished.

Skuce believes would-be mineral titleholders should be required to meaningfully engage and get permission from Indigenous communities and private property owners before they get any legal rights. We also need to update the policies for compensating people for areas that are staked, she says.

A current legal challenge in B.C. could set the precedent for reform. In 2021, the Gitxaa?a Nation filed a legal review of seven mineral claims granted in their territory, without any consultation, between 2018 and 2020 . The Mineral Tenure Act is, inconsistent with the United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which B.C. has affirmed in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), a Gitxaa?a legal backgrounder states.

A fundamental shift is possible, Marsden says, because we have land use plans in place. Most nations are in the process of developing them if they dont have them already. We have a foundation to build from. The Gitanyow Laxyip land use plan includes ways to work with the forestry industry, including the use of special management zones and areas that have to be avoided, Marsden says.

Its not scary, or the end of the world, she says. We have forestry operating, surviving fine with the land use plan. So why cant mining be the same?

Francesca Fionda and Matt Simmons is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of THE NARWHAL. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Turtle Island News does not receive LJI government funding.

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How digital prospectors are staking First Nations land and private property in BC - Turtle Island News

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London, July 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fairfield Market Research states that the global yacht charter market is expected to surge at phenomenal CAGR of 22.85% between the forecast of 2021 and 2027. The idea of revenge travel as vaccines reach the masses is expected to give the market a boost. Analysts anticipate that the global yacht charter market will reach US$25.53 Bn by 2027 as end users look forward to travelling as lockdowns ease.

Key Highlights of Global Yacht Charter Market:

The motor yacht charter segment is expected to lead with a CAGR of 24.89% by 2027

Europe to remain ahead as region has increasing number of high-net-worth individuals (HNWI)

Luxury yachts to trend bigger during the forecast period as the demand for entertainment aboard vessels spikes amongst millennials

Water sports to solidify the demand for yacht charters giving the global market an impetus

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Rising Disposable Incomes and Increased Spending Capacities Drive Global Yacht Charter Market

Prior to the pandemic, the global yacht charter market thrived as ideas of vacations changed drastically amongst the youth. Sailing to private islands or nearby islands to vacation in isolated spots became a sought-after getaway idea amongst the younger demographic before the pandemic. As nations declared lockdowns to prevent spread of coronavirus, yacht charters served those who could afford vacations and getaway to local islands, helping the market retain a steady flow of income throughout the pandemic.

As the pandemic recedes, the global yacht charter market is expected to thrive with revenge travel. Improved savings for the salaried class, vaccine rollouts, ability to work from anywhere, and need to break free from more than a year long lockdown is expected to bode well for the global yacht charter market.

Efficiency of Motor Yachts to Surpass Others

The demand for motorised yachts is expected to surpass sailing yachts. This demand will be driven by the sheer efficiency of motor yachts that allows the end users to achieve a good pace to cover larger distances. It also allows convenient manoeuvres, giving the tourists a better control in choppy conditions. The use of motorised yachts is expected also pick up in sailing boats.

Story continues

Some of the key operating players in the global yacht charter market are Charter Yachts Australia, Dream Yacht Charter, Boatbound Inc., Fraser Yacht, Mertello Fairline Yacht, Thai Charters, and CharterWorld LLP.

Do You Have Any Query or Specific Requirement? Request Customization of Report: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/report/yacht-charter-market/request-customization

REPORT SCOPE & SEGMENTATION:

REPORT FEATURES

DETAILS

Yacht Type Coverage

Yacht Sub Type Coverage

Yacht Size Coverage

Yacht Usage Coverage

Geographical Coverage

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Rest of the World (RoW)

Leading Companies

Report Highlights

Key Market Indicators, Macro-micro economic impact analysis, BREXIT Impact Analysis, Electrification, Market Estimates and Forecast, Market Dynamics, Industry Trends, Competition Landscape, Category, Region, Country-wise Trends & Analysis, COVID-19 Impact Analysis (Demand and Supply Chain), Key Trends

Table of Contents:

1. Executive Summary 1.1. Global Yacht Charter Market : Snapshot 1.2. Future Projections, 2018 - 2027, (US$ Mn) 1.3. Key Segment Analysis and Competitive Insights 1.4. Premium Insights

2. Yacht Charter Market Outlook 2.1. Market Definitions and Segmentation 2.2. Market Dynamics 2.2.1. Driver 2.2.2. Restraint 2.2.3. Industry Challenges & Opportunities 2.3. Market Forces Analysis 2.3.1. Value Chain Analysis 2.3.2. Porters Five Forces Analysis 2.3.3. SWOT Analysis 2.4. Impact Analysis 2.4.1. Pre and Post Covid-19 Analysis 2.4.2. Economic Indicators (GDP Per Capita, BREXIT Analysis, etc.) 2.4.3. Electrification 2.4.4. Parent Industry Trends

3. Global Yacht Charter Market Outlook, 2017 - 2026 3.1. Global Yacht Charter Market Value Forecast, By Yacht Type, 2018 - 2028, (US$ Mn) 3.1.1. Key Highlights 3.1.1.1. Market Growth & Projections (Y-o-Y) 3.1.1.2. Market Share Analysis, By Yacht Type, 2019 & 2027 3.1.2. Sailing 3.1.3. Motor 3.1.4. Catamaran 3.1.5. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Yacht Type 3.2. Global Yacht Charter Market Value Forecast, By Yacht Sub - Type, 2018 - 2028, (US$ Mn) 3.2.1. Key Highlights 3.2.1.1. Market Growth & Projections (Y-o-Y) 3.2.1.2. Market Share Analysis, By Yacht Sub - Type, 2019 & 2027 3.2.2. Classic 3.2.3. Open 3.2.4. Large 3.2.5. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Yacht Sub - Type 3.3. Global Yacht Charter Market Value Forecast, By Yacht Size, 2018 - 2028, (US$ Mn) 3.3.1. Key Highlights 3.3.1.1. Market Growth & Projections (Y-o-Y) 3.3.1.2. Market Share Analysis, By Yacht Size, 2019 & 2027 3.3.2. Small 3.3.3. Medium 3.3.4. Large 3.3.5. Market Attractiveness Analysis, By Yacht Size 3.4. Global Yacht Charter Market Value Forecast, By Usage, 2018 - 2028, (US$ Mn) 3.4.1. Key Highlights 3.4.1.1. Market Growth & Projections (Y-o-Y) 3.4.1.2. Market Share Analysis, By Usage, 2019 & 2027 3.4.2. Corporate 3.4.3. Retail 3.4.4. Others 3.4.5. Market Attractiveness Analysis, by Usage 3.5. Global Yacht Charter Market Outlook, by Region, (US$ Mn), 2017 - 2026 3.5.1. Key Highlights 3.5.1.1. Market Growth & Projections (Y-o-Y) 3.5.1.2. Market Share Analysis, By Region, 2019 & 2027 3.5.1.3. North America 3.5.1.4. Europe 3.5.1.5. Asia Pacific 3.5.1.6. Latin America 3.5.1.7. Middle East & Africa 3.5.2. Global Market Attractiveness Analysis, by Region

TOC Continued!

About UsFairfield Market Research is a UK-based market research provider. Fairfield offers a wide spectrum of services, ranging from customized reports to consulting solutions. With a strong European footprint, Fairfield operates globally and helps businesses navigate through business cycles, with quick responses and multi-pronged approaches. The company values an eye for insightful take on global matters, ably backed by a team of exceptionally experienced researchers. With a strong repository of syndicated market research reports that are continuously published & updated to ensure the ever-changing needs of customers are met with absolute promptness.

ContactFairfield Market Research London, UKUK +44 (0)20 30025888 USA (Toll-free) +1 (844) 3829746Web: https://www.fairfieldmarketresearch.com/ Email: sales@fairfieldmarketresearch.com

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Yacht Charter Market is Expected to be Worth US$25.53 Bn by 2027, Surging at a Healthy CAGR of 22.85% : Fairfield Market Research - Yahoo Finance

One of the best things about flying small aircraft is the ease of access they afford to desirable places that are otherwise difficult to reach. Island destinations are a classic example.

Typically they require earthbound travelers to drive their cars onto ferries whose schedules and capacities often are limited. They also tend to be slow and time-consuming compared with other modes of travel. Even if you book faster passage with an air taxi service, you are still beholden to someone elses timetable. Making the trip in ones own airplane gives the sense of control that is lost in most other forms of travel.

Below are some of the islands at the top of our wish lists that have general aviation airports and lots to do once you get there.

Northeasterners know that even if you live in Massachusetts it can take all day to get to Marthas Vineyardunless you fly there. And while the well-known island hopping airline Cape Air and several charter operators can get you to this vacation hotspot quickly, landing on the vineyard in your own airplane feels like the ultimate expression of freedom. The island also offers a diversity of airports including the towered Vineyard Haven (KMVY), Katama Airpark (1B2) in Edgartown, with three turf strips, and Trade Wind (MA44), a private (permission required) grass strip in Oak Bluffs run by the Marthas Vineyard Land Bank Commission.

Maine has a vast collection of interesting airfields, from numerous private turf and gravel strips as short as 1,000 feet to the deactivated Loring Air Force Base with a runway 12,000 feet long and 300 feet wide. You can still land at Loring (ME16) if you get permission in advance. Islesboros modest tree-lined runway does not detract much from the sense of being pleasantly lost in time when visiting the island. In many ways the place seems to have changed little since the 1600s when European traders and explorers traversed the area. Yes, you will see modern cars and boats, but there are miles of quiet, wooded hiking trails that help visitors forget the trappings of civilization.

Beaver Island in Lake Michigan has long been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. From fishing and hunting to boating, bicycling, hiking, and camping, there is much to take in on this remote spot. Local companies rent bikes, kayaks, and other outdoor gear while guides lead island tours. Visitors can check out the Toy Museum, Marine Museum, and the Mormon Print Shop Museum, which followers of religious leader James Jesse Strang built in 1850 as the communitys print shop. Visitors can also climb the 46-foot Beaver Head Lighthouse, which was built in 1856 and was active until 1962, when it was decommissioned.

This island in the Outer Banks region was long known as a rustic, minimal spot that did not receive telephone service until 1956 or establish a public water system until 1977. But its natural, untouched, and unfussy style is a big part of the appeal. There is plenty to see and do here and lots of history worth noting. One of its most interesting stories involves the Ocracoke Banker Ponies, a herd that descended from Spanish mustangs who survived a shipwreck hundreds of years ago and have occupied the island ever since. For most of that time they ran free but now live in an enclosed 188-acre area under National Park Service care.

There is a lot going on at Friday Harbor, often called the gateway to the San Juan Islands, from farmers markets and film festivals to shops and sightseeing. There are many restaurants serving locally produced food and venues for the arts, including the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, which holds quarterly exhibitions of visual art from around the world. The waterfront is a popular destination for its shops and food, and as the departure point for whale-watching tours. Orcas, Dalls porpoise, humpback whales, minke whales, sea lions, and harbor seals are known to frequent the waters around the island.

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Forsaking the Ferry: Five Island Destinations for Pilots - FLYING Magazine - FLYING