Greece unleashes bold new tourist tax strategy
| | NEW YORK, US, 14 July 2025 (TTW) - Among the most significant new initiatives is the implementation of a seasonal cruise ship passenger tax, effective July 21, 2025. The new levy targets tourists arriving on giant cruise liners, which sometimes flood small island societies when they bring thousands of tourists to an area en masse. Such short-term injections exert enormous pressures on vendors selling street food, transport infrastructure, and natural assets. |
16th Census of India will include the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
| | NEW DELHI, India, 14 July 2025 (The Hindu) - Conducting census among the six main indigenous tribles in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will not be tough as the Central Government has already made contact and are running several welfare measures for these tribes, said physician Ratan Chandra Kar. Dr. Kar who played an important role in providing healthcare to the Jarawa tribe of the Andaman Islands began his work with the tribes in 1998, combating a devastating measles outbreak in 1999 that threatened the tribe’s existence. |
Scotland's unreliable ferries leave people on islands cut off
| | SOUTH UIST, UK, 14 July 2025 (NYT) - In theory, it can be reached on 10 ferry crossings a week, in three hours and 30 minutes. But so frequent is the disruption to the ferry from Mallaig, on the mainland, to Lochboisdale, on South Uist, that hoteliers fume about canceled bookings and islanders fret about missing travel connections or funerals on the mainland. |
The Cook Islands asks where its future lies
| | RAROTONGA, Cook Islands, 14 July 2025 (Guardian) - The Cook Islands struck major deals with China earlier this year for economic and other kinds of cooperation, sparking a diplomatic row with Wellington over a lack of consultation. Cook Islands operates in “free association” New Zealand and while it governs its own affairs, Wellington provides assistance including in foreign affairs and defence. Tensions escalated and last month New Zealand abruptly cut off millions of dollars in critical aid and funding. |
A marine biologist by training and a conservationist by necessity
| | SAN FRANCISCO, US, 13 July 2025 (Mongabay) - For over 30 years, Mark Erdmann has combined scientific discovery with grassroots conservation in Indonesia, helping communities protect their reefs from destructive practices and documenting more than 220 new species. As a leader behind Raja Ampat’s pioneering community-governed marine protected areas, Erdmann has shown how local stewardship can revive ecosystems - bringing back sharks, rays, and sustainable tourism. |
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SPREP |
 | | Fourth Pacific Ocean Pacific Climate Change Conference, 20-24 May 2024, Apia, Samoa |
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SIDS |
| | 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States 27-30 May 2024, Antigua and Barbuda |
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NAF |
| | North Atlantic Forum bi-annual international conference 17-21 June, 2024, Connemara, Ireland, |
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ISISA |
| | 19th Islands of the World Conference 25-29 June, 2024, Lombok Island, Indonesia |
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IWRA |
| | 1st Islands Water Congress 4-6 Sept, 2024, Torshavn, Faroe Islands |
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ANATOMY OF ISLANDS |
| | 12th Anatomy of Islands symposium 26-28 Sept, 2024, Jelsa, Hvar Island, Croatia |
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CIS |
| | Critical Island Studies 4th international conference 3-4 Oct, 2024, Manila, Philippines |
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CBD |
| | COP16 21 Oct-1 Nov, 2024, Cali, Colombia |
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UNFCCC |
| | COP29 11-22 November, 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan |
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ISLAND DYNAMICS |
| | DARKNESS II conference, 20-23 January 2025, Nuuk, Greenland |
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JICAS |
| | Islands And Island Studies conference 3-7 June, 2025, Jersey, Channel Islands |
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UNITED NATIONS |
| | UN Ocean Conference 9-13 June, 2025, Nice, France |
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UPEI |
| | 3rd international conference on SIS and SNIJs 16-20 June, 2025, Charlottetown, PEI |
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