European Tourism 2012: Trends & Prospects

Posted on: 11 May 2012
By: mackene
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The European Travel Commission has just published this year’s first quarterly report on European Tourism for 2012. As a new reference for destination strategy, this report includes a series of market share analyses for ten of Europe’s largest source markets. These market profiles reveal trends in total outbound travel, Europe’s share of the market over the past decade, and growth forecasts for each market.

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Neighbourhood planning: Quick guide to neighbourhood planning

Posted on: 11 May 2012
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This guide gives a concise summary of the process of neighbourhood planning together with suggestions for best practice.

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Transport outlook 2012: Seamless transport for greener growth

Posted on: 11 May 2012
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The mobility projections in this Transport Outlook indicate that global passenger transport volumes in 2050 could be up to 2.5 times as large as in 2010, and freight volumes could grow by a factor of four. Emissions of CO2 grow more slowly because of increasing energy efficiency, but may nevertheless more than double. The projected evolution of mobility depends on income and population growth, and on urbanization. The relation between framework conditions and mobility is uncertain and not immutable and the Transport Outlook examines a number of plausible policy scenarios including the potential effects of prices and mobility policies that are less car-oriented in urban settings. Low car ownership with increased two-wheeler use and somewhat lower overall mobility results in much lower emissions of CO2. Mobility policies can slow down CO2 emission growth but cannot by themselves stop it; energy technology is the key to actually reducing the transport sector’s global carbon footprint.

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PROVIA Guidance on assessing vulnerability,impacts and adaptation (VIA)

Posted on: 11 May 2012
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The Programme of Research on Climate Change Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (PROVIA) is a global initiative which aims to provide direction and coherence at the international level for research on vulnerability, impacts and adaptation (VIA). PROVIA is developing revised guidance on assessing VIA. This will serve as an update of earlier IPCC Guidelines (1994) and the UNEP Handbook (1996). The PROVIA revisions aim to help decision makers to select the appropriate methods and tools for their particular context and adaptation situation. The guidance is aimed at professionals such as researchers, policy makers, sectoral planners and consultants. It will provide a framework for considering the full range of approaches to VIA assessment. The first full draft of the PROVIA Guidance on Assessing Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation is now available.

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RICS UK Construction Market Survey

Posted on: 11 May 2012
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The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has published the results of the UK construction market survey for the first quarter of 2012.

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Virtual Training Suite

Posted on: 10 May 2012
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The Virtual Training Suite aims to help university students to develop Internet research skills to assist with their university coursework and assignments. Over 60 free Internet tutorials are on offer, each covering Internet research skills for a different subject, with a few extras covering skills that are relevant across disciplines. The tutorials were written by a team of UK university lecturers and librarians. Each tutorial is divided into four main sections, which enable you to:

TOUR – the best of the Web for your subject of study.

DISCOVER – how to find scholarly information online.

JUDGE – which Internet resources are appropriate for university work.

SUCCESS – learn by example, how to use the Internet for academic research.

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Shanghai Manual: A guide for sustainable urban development in the 21st century

Posted on: 10 May 2012
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The Shanghai Manual is a resource on sustainable urban development to mayors, urban planners and decision-makers of cities around the world. The chapters of the Manual are used as training modules in workshops that are organized by UN/DESA training centers, such as the UN Center for Regional Development, as well as other capacity building entities. The publication contains many examples of innovative leadership and distills the lessons of experiences in sustainable urban development, providing practical advice on policies and best practices. The Manual does not present theoretical discussions, but is based entirely on practical solutions to real world challenges. It provides innovative ideas, tactics and solutions that have been successfully applied at the city level.

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National Housing Federation Finance Policy Quarterly Update

Posted on: 10 May 2012
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This quarterly update provides a snapshot of a range of finance policy issues being worked on at the National Housing Federation. The Spring 2012 edition n this edition we provide an update on: alternative sources of finance including REITs and M and G’s private placement offer; the new Financial Reporting Standard (FRS); the new consultation on draft guidance to the VAT Cost Sharing Exemption; the Federation’s views of the current Investment Programme and new Right to Buy discounts; and auto-enrolment, tenant cash back scheme.

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Partners for new URBACT projects

Posted on: 10 May 2012
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The 19 URBACT Thematic Networks approved in April 2012 are now looking for new EU partners, including cities but also regional authorities, universities and other public institutions, to join their work on integrated, sustainable urban development. During the 6 month Development Phase, all new URBACT projects have to extend their partnerships from five up to a maximum of 12 partners. The approved projects include:

CityLogo: City branding and marketing to promote better positioning of cities in the post crisis economic arena;

CSI Europe: Involvement of cities in Jessica Urban Development Fund (UDF) structures – Role of financial instruments in efficient planning;

DID-RFSC: Referential Framework for Sustainable cities – Monitoring local strategic plans to engage stakeholders/ citizens in an integrated and sustainable approach;

E4C: E-skills for innovative cities through joint definition of integrated urban strategies, policies and practices;

ENTER.HUB: Railway hubs/ multimodal interfaces of regional relevance in medium size cities as engines for integrated urban development and economic, social and cultural regeneration;

EUnivercities: Exploring the next generation partnerships between cities and universities for a more strategic and effective co-operation;

RE-Block: Creating sustainable high-rise blocks through social cohesion, green spaces and poverty reduction;

Sustainable food for urban communities: Innovative initiatives for more sustainable food production/ retail & consumption in urban communities;

URBACT Markets: Local markets as drivers for local economic development and regeneration by exploring the links between local sustainability and successful markets;

USE ACT: Fostering opportunities for people & businesses to settle in existing locations and avoid consumption of land, through new planning processes and partnership approaches;

USER: New processes and partnerships for Urban sustainable & efficient regeneration by integrating expertise of uses from inhabitants and field workers;

WOOD FOOTPRINT: Fostering local economic development through the use of brownfield and  buildings/ spaces abandoned due to the transformation of the wood/ furniture sector.

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Government construction pipeline update

Posted on: 10 May 2012
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In fulfilling the commitments made in the Plan for Growth at Budget 2011 the Government has updated the construction pipeline last published in November 2011 alongside the National Infrastructure Plan and the infrastructure investment pipeline. The Government funded construction pipeline includes over 600 projects and programmes, around £40 billion of investment over 4 years to 2014/15 (excluding rail and other regulated and private sector infrastructure investment).

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