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| Issue #8 23 May 2000 |
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| Entre Nous Bonaire's Bi-montly Newsletter |
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Entre Nous is the bi-montly newsletter from the Tourism Corporation Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. In this newsletter you will find the accomplishments of TCB in Bonaire, North America, South America and Europe. We hope that you will read it with pleasure and if you have something that you think is relevant for the tourism sector to know just fax it to 8408 or email to: tcb@bonairelive.com. TOPICS FOR THIS WEEK
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LOCAL REPORT |
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BY JERRY C. LIGON Phoebe Snetsinger introduced herself to me as a birder, in the spring of 1999, and wondered if I could help her find perhaps a species or two that she would be interested in seeing. She was traveling in style with Bausch and Lomb Elite binocular around her neck, one of the best optics that can be purchased and not for the occasional nature enthusiast, I thought to myself. I mentioned a few of our species that "most" visiting birders would be delighted to see. "Ruby Topaz Hummingbird?" She said no, that she had it on several of her Venezuela trips. "Scrub Flycatcher?” I asked. No, that one she got in Costa Rica, she answered. This continued for a good fifteen minutes and it was beginning to dawn on me that this was no ordinary lady. Her two traveling companions were enjoying my efforts to produce something special for this elderly birder. We casually exchanged good-byes and e-mail addresses and she left. One of the two men with her stayed behind and told me not to worry, that this was the usual way Phoebe and local experts had conversations. He asked me if I had heard her name before. "No", I answered, and that I haven't been in the thick of birder's circles since I left Colorado four years ago. "She is the world's top birder", he answered, and watching my reaction when this bit of information had sank in. They had been traveling together in a small group of birders, off on their own and were spending some time here enjoying the snorkeling in Bonaire for a few days before commencing their birding tour of South America. I
e-mailed her, during the summer of 1999, to clear up a question on
whether the American Coot had been split into two species by the
ornithological wizards- Caribbean Coot and American Coot.
I had an educated suspicion that she would know.
She promptly responded that they indeed had.
That was all the correspondence that we had, but I kept her
e-mail address handy for further reference. During
the first part of December 1999, I received an e-mail taken from her
address book by her husband. It
was a short note, reporting that Phoebe had been killed in an auto wreck
in Madagascar, and that he was letting everyone that had corresponded
with her know of the tragedy. Not
long afterward, the birding magazines that I subscribe to began to
report on her untimely death. She
was a resident of Webster Groves, Missouri, and had turned into an
"intense" birder when she was diagnosed with malignant
melanoma in 1981. She never
slowed down. Her cancer
went into remission and she continued her intensified zeal for birding,
a past time that she had entertained for over thirty years.
She had tallied over 8,400 species-nearly eighty-eight percent of
the world's total of 9,600 birds. One
of the articles that appeared paid tribute to her enthusiasm for birding
by mentioning that on a recent trip to Bosque Unchog at 11,500 feet in
the central Andes of Peru, she added a Bay-vented Cotinga to her life
list, making this the 2000th genus of bird out of slightly over 2,100
genera existing worldwide. Many
consider that her feat will never be duplicated, mainly because Phoebe
saw some species that were so rare that they may have become extinct
since her adding them to her life list.
Not often do we meet people that we can categorize as a legend.
This lady was indeed one. When you pick up your phone and call TCB at 001-599-717-8322 or stop in at our office, you will meet Robert Evertz. He has been working for TCB for the past three years not only at the front desk, but also as the information officer In 1974, Robert was one of the first male
interns at the Hospital on Bonaire, where he had worked for
almost 13 years. Just prior to starting at TCB, Robert worked
for four years at one of the island tour operators where he
received his experience as an information officer. In his spare time, Robert loves to spend
his off hours relaxing, fishing or singing. The latter is what
he loves the most. When he is not enjoying one of his hobbies,
he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter.
Elsmarie Buekenboon, TCB Director, has been invited to be the first keynote speaker at the fourth Groenveld Conference on sustainable tourism. The prestigious conference is taking place in the Netherlands from May 25th through the 27th. Her address will discuss how Bonaire has been maintaining the balance in growth of tourism in relation to the enviornment environment. This
conference is organized and hosted by NHTV (Hospitality
College in Breda, Netherlands) Chair for Sustainable Tourism
Development. It will focus on four issues in tourism
destinations, from public sector, private sector, and NGO
perspectives: Culture: preservation and management;
Environmental management; Biodiversity: tourism’s natural
partner, Local communities, planning and development. Registration
for the week will be available for a donation of US $125.00
(fls. 125,00 for local residents-cedula required) at the TCB
office beginning June 1. Entry to individual events
will also be available at the door for a donation of US
$15.00 per event (fls. 15,00 local) except Taste of Bonaire,
which is open to the public. 2:30pm:
Dive Festival Registration/Orientation 3:30-5:00pm:
Learn RECON reef health assessment techniques
with Lisa Monk of the Center for Marine Conservation (CMC).
Participants are encouraged to conduct reef surveys
throughout the week and give the results to CMC. PLUS!
Ocean Action Network with CMC¹s David Dixon all at Harbour
Village 3:30-5:00pm:
So You Want to be an Underwater Photographer:
Take your first step into becoming and underwater
Photographer at the beginning photography clinic with photo
buoyancy seminar with SEA & SEA and DAN at Capt.
Don¹s Habitat. 3:00-4:00pm:
Dee Scarr and CMC Underwater Cleanup Seminar
at Habitat Conference Room. 3:30-5:00pm:
A big games of Fish-O (Just like Bingo. Seeif you can
name all the fish!) at Harbour
Village Beach Resort 6:30-8:30pm:
Awards Presentations and Closing Ceremony will be held at
Fort Oranje in downtown Kralendijk Learn more about the oldest village of Bonaire during the Rincon Market "Marshe di Rincon". The
first inhabitants who settled in Rincon were the Indians. In
1499, the Spaniards came to Bonaire and established themselves
in what is now the actual area.
. The village was the home of many slaves who
worked in the saltpans, which located at the southern part of
the island. The center of Rincon offers a vast history about the
island, architecture and culture. Visitors will be able to see
the old protestant and the Catholic Churches, both built by the
local inhabitants. To
learn more about Rincon, you will need the followings:
motivation, sturdy walking shoes and a cap or sombrero against
the sun. At the end of the one-hour tour you will be find a
delicious, refreshing drink.
There is also an afternoon bus tour (2:00 o'clock), which begins in front of the Flamingo Boutique. You will have a quick view of the village of Rincon, looking at the still different styles of colonial architecture. The tour includes a visit to the Lourdes grotto, '''Altamira unjo" where you will have a beautiful panoramic view of Rincon and most of Bonaire. While crossing through Rincon we will drive to the north coast of the island. There you will be able to see the dam where, on many occasions, flamingos and the ducks can be seen. Passing through the picturesque area of Playa Grandi, we arrive at the entrance of the Washington park. You will be able to take a look in the museum, walk outside to see the rancho of the charcoal burners and the aloe pans and oven, the different styles of making fences, and last but not least visit the kokolishi "conch" place. Going back we pass Ita's kunuku, and garden. The tour last about 1 hour and 30 minutes. A snack and refreshments are included. (Price $10,-) Remember the Rincon Market will be held on the first Saturday of the month. The next market will be on Saturday June 3, 2000. Your tourguides for the above mentioned tours will be: Carmita and Maria. If you have more questions about the tours offered during the “Rincon market” don’t hesitate to contact Maria Koeks.
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The Dive Festival is just a few weeks away. The final plans are being put in place for the Fourth Annual Dive Festival June 10 - 17, 2000. TCB-New York has been working closely with Ann Louise Tuke, the on-island Dive Festival coordinator, Rodale's Scuba Diving, the official print sponsor of the event, and The Coral Reef Alliance, one of the sponsoring organizations for the Festival. This year's Festival, the first one held in June, is expected to be the best yet, with presenters from The Coral Reef Alliance, Reef Environmental Education Foundation, Center for Marine Conservation and Environmental Defense plus marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle, and world-renowned underwater photographers Stephen Frink and Charles Seaborn all on hand for this week-long event.
On
Sunday July 16, 2000, the Caribbean Tourism Organization in
conjunction with the Garden State, Long Island, Greater
Philadelphia, Connecticut and Great New York Chapters of the CTO
will host Caribbean Day on Ellis Island.
Organized to promote the Caribbean, this cultural festival
will showcase the region’s rich and diverse history and culture
with music, dance, food and more.
A number of CTO Member Countries including Bonaire
have already signed on to participate in this event.
The daylong event will feature a tented area where art, food,
costumes and other items highlighting each island’s cultural
heritage will be on display. General
and historical information on the islands will also be available.
Festivities throughout the day will include traditional dance
and music from around the Caribbean and the opportunity to sample
ethnic Caribbean food.
The April 16, 2000 travel section of the New York Times (circulation 1,687,959) featured a letter to the editor inquiring about where in the Caribbean could easy access to the water be found for someone who was elderly or disabled. The response from the Times as to where someone could find this easy access included a number of ideal locations including Bonaire and the Divi Flamingo Beach Resort. The only resort specifically named in the response to the letter, the resort's website address and the resort’s toll-free number were included. This placement was also in the April 16th San Mateo Times (circulation 35,314) a California newspaper, the April 23rd Tampa Tribune (circulation 371,086). The April 16th travel section of the Spokane Spokesman-Review (circulation 140,407) featured a two page article on Bonaire. Calling it a "diver's paradise" and saying that "if you're looking for a relaxing getaway, this is the place," the article mainly focused on the Island's world-class diving and contains 3 four-color and 1 black and white photos. Information on windsurfing, nightlife, accommodations and quick facts on the island are also included. TCB's toll free number was included as well. The April 16th travel section of the Long Island edition of the New York Daily News (circulation 835,429) featured a placement on the Dive Festival which included Bonaire's (800) number. This placement was also featured in the Queens edition of the NY Daily News (circulation 326,322). The April 16th travel section of the Miami Herald (circulation 462,606) featured a section on upcoming Caribbean events and included information on the Dive Festival. The travel section also featured a listing of all Caribbean tourist offices in the U.S. including Bonaire. TCB-New York's toll-free number, address and website address were included. The April 16th travel section of the Los Angeles Times (circulation 1,385,787) featured a listing of all tourist offices for foreign countries, including Bonaire. TCB-New York's toll-free number, address and website address were included. The April 17, 2000 issue of TravelAge West (circulation 39,583) featured an article on the Fourth Annual Dive Festival. With a mention about the Dive Festival in the table of contents, the one-page article included a four-color underwater photo and detailed information on the Festival. Package prices, tour operator and host hotel name's and phone numbers as well as Bonaire's (800) number and website address were also included. The May 2000 issue of Travel World News (circulation 33,000) featured a placement on the Dive Festival. Included was information on the Dive Festival schedule of activities, official host hotels and tour operators. The May 2000 issue of Dive Training (circulation 90,000) featured a 1.5 page placement on the purchase of Klein Bonaire. Detailed background on the history behind the purchase as well as information on the island itself is included along with information on how people can contribute to the cause. The Spring/Summer 2000 Travel Planner for travel agents, a supplement to Travel Weekly, (circulation 50,490) was distributed on April 24, 2000. This vacation guide profiled all Caribbean Islands including Bonaire. The section on Bonaire featured two four-color photos of Bonaire (one underwater and one in the National Park) and focused on the various activities available and gave information on accommodations at the Carib Inn. A full page advertisement on Bonaire was featured on the accompanying page, next to the editorial placement.
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NEWS
BITS
Last
week, Bonaire hosted a group of Travel Agent / Tour Operators from
Switzerland. The trip was organized by The Dutch Caribbean Travel
Center in cooperation with the tourist offices of the ABC-islands. The
group stayed
at Captain Don's Habitat and Plaza Resort Bonaire. TCB-Europe accompanied this group and report that it wan busy program consisting of island tours, snorkeling or diving and site inspections. We have already received some positive feedback from the participants. A speciaal thanks goes to the staff of TCB, BONHATA and the private sector for the perfect organization.
Fam Trip Indigo Tours on Bonaire, June 4-6,2000. Indigo Tours will
visit Bonaire during their annual Fam. Trip on June 4-6. The Wegener
Dagbladen Group has published a very nice article on Bonaire in the
travel section of two huge regional newspapers in the Netherlands:
Brabants Dagblad (circulation 158817/) and De Gelderlander
(circulations 179505). The total advertising value was Hfl.
15145,73. This publication was on May 13; the headings stated
"Bonaire barst van de beesten" and "Beestenboel
op Bonaire". Dutch Caribbean
Travel Center is organizing a press trip. Eight journalists from
Germany will be visiting the ABC-islands. They will be staying at Captain
Don's Habitat, June 3-5, 2000. At the moment TCB / BONHATA are
working hard on an attractive itinerary for this press group. |
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American
Airlines Travel Exchange Trade Show - San Juan, Puerto Rico These
were two very intensive days of making contacts with new markets like
Mexico and Puerto Rico. We also were in competition with the presence of
the American market as well. American
Airlines Travel Exchange took place at the Hyatt Hotel Cerromar Dorado
in San Juan, Puerto Rico from the 2nd through the 4th
of May. Aruba, Bonaire and
Curacao were together in the presentation of the ABC Islands
demonstrating how strong we are in the Caribbean. Linda Anthony, from
Bonhata and Yasmin Perez, from TCB formed our delegation. Official
presentations in English and Spanish were held before full audience
of150 travel agents, eager to know more about our destination. After
the presentation, many travel agents interested in Bonaire visited our
booth to get hold of some folders and information.
Bonaire in the Yearly Meeting of FVAS The
Federation on Underwater Activities from Venezuela held their yearly
meeting on the 27th of April. TCB was invited to attend. We
spent 45 minutes making our presentation and discussing the island, the
Dive Festival, our new promotional plans and, of course, visiting our
friends, the divers. May
and June… promotional months… As
it is low season, we have already started our promotional program,
visiting the travel agencies and delivering folders from the island and
the hotels. For these months, the very important Travel Agency MASO
chose Bonaire as the main destination for the folder they are
distributing them to the corporate sector. The folder has a very nice
cover with diving images and lots of colorful pictures of the island
inside Business
Venezuela in Bonaire The
famous magazine Business Venezuela (Venezuela's only english-languaje,
published by The Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce and Industry) is
preparing their June edition where, for the second year in a row,
Bonaire will be present together with other destinations in the
Caribbean. Between the 8th and the 10th of this
month, their reporters visited us, looking for editorial material and
photographs. Their host
Hotel was Sand Dollar. Avior
cancels its flights to Bonaire. Without
previous announcement, Avior notified that they decided to cancel their
flights to the island… Our
Bureau in Venezuela keeps on working to find a more reliable and
stronger airline. Posters
from Bonaire in Travel Agencies and Dive Schools Our operators are distributing posters from Bonaire among the Colombian Travel Agencies: Turismo ABC, Escaribe, Asturismo, Viajes Chapinero and Munditur Barranquilla. This way, the image of the island remains in the forefront with our potential sellers, the travel agents. The effectiveness of a FAM. Trip One
year ago. We have invited Roxana Goronas, journalist and diver, to
Bonaire. She liked the island very much.
She was impressed with the people and specially the Marine Park,
its fauna and healthy reefs. Since
then, Roxana hasn't missed a single opportunity to write about our
destination in many of the different magazines she works for. Newspaper
LA NACION half a page, black and white. "In Bonaire you breathe
really deep"
In
this article the beauty of our diving is highlighted, describing some of
the 86 dive sites and specifically how easy it is to make shore dives
here. Other activities are promoted, like kayaking, biking, excellent
gastronomy and spectacular dinners "al fresco".
The article includes tips on how to get here, via Varig to
Caracas and then ALM. Buzos
Magazine 3 pages "Bonaire:
Heaven's Branch" Here
is depicted the history of the island, underwater topography, dive
sites…. They talk about Charly and Charline, the tranquility of the
island with its 15.000 inhabitants, the hotels, the Dive Operations and
general information about how to get to the island, language, currency,
climate, etc. Buenos
Viajes Magazine 11 pages "Bonaire Ecologic Shelter" This
is an excellent article with lots of color photographs and a very
suggestive beginning: "The underwater life is very intense and the
ones who can experience it, find it hard to go back to the
surface…" Also about Bonaire history: "…sun and beach all
year round and the heritage of having been a Dutch colony are the
presentation cards of Bonaire" Also about the diverse activities of
the island, with two full pages of photographs of mountain biking and
kayaking… Excellent pictures form the Marine Park. "The protected
area of the Marine Park warrants the health of the species that inhabit
one of the best preserved reefs of the world". "The dive sites
are easily identified with a yellow stone by the roadside". The
article finishes with a guide with basic information about how to get
here, immigration requirements, currency, language, climate,
accommodations, shopping, sports, places to visit, etc. etc. Roxana
Goronás, Buenos Aires-Argentina, e-mail; submarina@sinectis.com.ar
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On Tuesday may 23st, Hans de Booij, a wellknown
dutch singer and artist is opening his small-painting-exhibition
at Kontiki beachclub. He will tell about his paintings and sing a
selection of his old and new songs as well. Kontiki's special for
that night will be: Spanish fishpaella with a fine selection of
spanish wines.
The exhibition will last untill June the 3th,
but Hans de Booij will be on the island only untill May the
24th, so if you want to see and talk to the artist you should
visit
Kontiki on May the 23th. between 6-9 pm.
More information at Kontiki: 717 5369
Kontiki's web-page: http://www.bonairenet.com/kontiki/kontiki.htm
Bonaire now has another addition to add to its long list of ethnic food eateries. In addition to the Swiss Chalet mentioned in a previous edition of Entre Nous, we now have a Lebanese restaurant, the Garden. It is open for lunch and dinner and serves an assortment Middle Eastern dishes as well as traditional fare. They are located at the rear of the former ABN Banks parking lot and also have an entrance from Kaya Grande located just South of Beef Eater.
A Cellular One Franchise is now opened for business on Bonaire.
They are conviently located on Kaya Grande in Playa (Kralendijk).
They sell, service and will also rent (in about two weeks) cell phones
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June 2000 |
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| 1 | Ascension Day | ||
| 3 | Cycle Tour Kralendijk - Lac Bay | ||
| 10 - 17 | 4th Annual Dive Festival | ||
| 19-25 | Siman di Kultura (Cultural Week) | ||
| 24 | St. John's Day | ||
| 29 | St. Peter's Day | ||
| * | 5 km Run (organized by Comcabon) | ||
| * | 4th Angola Construction Sailing Competition at Kas di Regatta | ||
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July 2000
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| 2 - 4 | Dia di Art (Art Day) | ||
| 2 | 5 km Fun Run (organized by KONKABON) | ||
| 22 | Time Cycle Trial 10k and Circuit 50k (Bonaire Cycling) | ||
| 23 | Road Bike Race 60k | ||
| * | Lac Bay Mini Regatta | ||
| * | 14th Copa Cultimara Sailing Race at Lac Bai-Cai | ||
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August 2000 |
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| 6 | 5 km Fun Run (organized by KONKABON) | ||
| * | 5th Cap't Don's Habitat Sailing | ||
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September 2000 |
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| 3 | Cycle Tour Kralendjik - Sorobon | ||
| 3 | Local Fishing Tournament | ||
| 6 | "Dia di Bonaire" Bonaire Day | ||
| 6 | Sailign Race "Dia di Bonaire " at Kas di Regatta | ||
| 6 | 5 km run | ||
| 30 | Mountain Bike Race | ||
| * | Duofest International | ||
| * | 17 km Estafetter run | ||
| * To be announced | |||
| For a complete calender of events visit our website at www.infobonaire.com | |||
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For a complete calender of events visit our website at http://www.infobonaire.com/ Note: Dates are subject to change. A full cruise ship schedule is available upon request at the TCB Office. If you have any additions, changes or corrections to this planner please send these to S. Pourier via fax (8408) or e-mail: statistics@tourismbonaire.com - thank you. *To unsubscribe or subscribe send an e-mail to: tcb@bonairelive.com ********************************************* Tourism Corporation Bonaire Kaya S. Bolivar 12 Bonaire Dutch Caribbean Tel: 599-7-8322/ 8649 Fax: 599-7-8408 E-mail: tcb@tourismbonaire.com Website address: http://www.infobonaire.com/ **************************************************** |
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