Topics 2004
The 9th Asia-Pacific Rally opened
The 9th Asia-Pacific Rally organized by F.I.C.C. (Federation International de Camping et de Caravanning) was held in Jeju Island, Korea from October 30 to November 3, 2004. Around twenty caravans, including rental caravans, gathered at the Hallim Resort, a rally site about 40 km away from the local airport. The Rally was joined by President of the F.I.C.C. and his wife in addition to as many as two hundred participants from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
European Ecolabel introduced into Asia
Criteria for awarding the European Ecolabel for campsite services werer approved by the EU Regulatory Committee 29th of September in Brussels.The Ecolabelling initiative consists of a "Blue Flower" award that the EU gives to a campsites which meets a number of environmentally friendly criteria on a list of 102 points - 36 of the criteria are obligatory while the others are optional but earn additional points. This program would be easily adapted to other continents including Asia. It was already proposed to hold a symposium during the 70th F.I.C.C. Rally in Taiwan next year with the subject "the 70th camping and caravanning rally and environment". The symposium would be held on 9th October 2005 at the international meeting room in the university of Dong-wha.
Restrictions on Motorcaravans in Japan
In Japan, conversion from small diesel vehicles with good fuel economy is considered as the mainstream method for manufacturing motorcaravans. However, since October 1, 2003, when the Automobile NOx/PM Law took effect, no new-vehicle registrations have been accepted by government for any diesel vehicles that do not satisfy the limit requirement, most of which are small diesel vehicles (less than 3.5 tons). This Law is applicable to the specially-designated regions including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and their surrounding areas. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the specially-designated region can be defined as "a region in which traffic volume, number of registered motor vehicles, and NOx/PM emission density exceed three to four times the national average." It is easy to predict that as the traffic volume increases nationwide, more cities will be included in the specially-designated regions, and this seems likely to happen. Those campers who have registered their motorcaravans in one of these regions are no longer allowed to register them as new vehicles or receive compulsory periodic vehicle inspections, and any acts against these rules will result in a fine not to exceed 500,000 Yen. As a consequence, campers who own diesel motorcaravans have no choice but to sell them off fellow campers residing outside the specially-designated region or replace their camping style with the old-fashioned tent camping.
Restrictions on Diesel Vehicles in Tokyo
In Tokyo, since the Regulation on the Operation of Diesel Vehicles came into force in October of 2003, it has been prohibited throughout the city to operate any diesel vehicles that do not meet the exhaust emission standard for particulate matter (PM). Unless equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF), no diesel vehicles are currently allowed to be driven in Tokyo, even in cases where they are registered in other towns or cities. The background to this regulation lies in the serious air pollution in Tokyo, caused by heavy traffic mostly comprised of diesel trucks from outside the city. The government of Tokyo has concluded that banning the entry of these trucks would mitigate the environmental problem of the city.
SINOPEC International Auto Camping Silk Road Rally 2004
The Federation of Camping and Caravanning of China will hold a Silk Road Rally from August 13 to September 4, 2004, which covers about 3,800 km from Beijing to Urumqi. Sponsored by China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (SINOPEC), the rally will be joined by the staff from both China and abroad, the media, sponsors, and overseas participants. A variety of fun events are planned at each stop including the following: Wushu lessons provided by the Shaolin Temple and visit to the Buddha at the Longmen Caves in Luoyang, He'nan Province; sight-seeing and visit to the Terra-Cotta Warriors and Horses of Emperor Qinshihuang in Xi'an, Shanxi Province; camping at the foot of Mt. Maiji and experiencing of the culture of Taoism in Tianshui, Gansu Province; camping by and rafting on the Yellow River in Lanzhou, Gansu Province; visit to the Ta'er Lamasery and singing/dancing performance by the Tibetan tribe in Xining, Qinghai Province; camping by the lake at Qinghai Lake, Qinghai Province; camping at the desert and recital of poems about the Silk Road, the Great Wall and the west culture in Jiayu Pass, Gansu Province; trip on a camel to the Crescent Moon Spring of the Whistling Sand Mountain, tasting of some good wine with the local "night-light" cup, and camel riding for seeing the sunrise in Dunhuang, Gansu Province; and visit to home of an Uygur family and the tribal elementary school in Turpan, Xinjiang Province. For overseas participants, it is advised to apply for participation by mid-June as the necessary procedures would take a couple of months.
Asian Camping Fellowship (ACF)
During the 6th International Camping Congress ( ICC2003: Melbourne, Australia), ICF (International Camping Fellowship) Secretary General and all participants from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan gathered to discuss on developing camping in Asia on January 6, 2003. In this meeting, it was approved that National Camping Association of Japan (NCAJ), host of the 5th International Camping Congress (2000) would ask all organizations and individuals related to camping in all Asian countries to gather to establish "ASIAN CAMPING FELLOWSHIP (ACF)" in the near future. After this historical meeting, National Camping Association of Japan (NCAJ) has prepared the 1st Asian Camping Fellowship Meeting & Mongolian Camp Experience Tour with International Children Centre "Nairamdal" of Mongolia on July 4 ( Sun.), 2004.CAJ requests the pleasure of the Company of all Organizations and Individuals related to camping in all Asian countries at the 1st ASIAN CAMPING FELLOWSHIP Meeting & Mongolian Camp Experience Tour in order to exchange information and ideas for developing camping in Asia and each country.
Let's Autocamping
"Outdoor 2004 Let's Autocamping" was held on April 10 and 11, 2004 at the open space in front of the National Yoyogi Stadium Tokyo. Japan Auto Camping Federation has been organizing the exhibition to promote and develop the autocamping movements in Japan for over 30 years. The large area was filled with exhibition booths for demonstrating recreational vehicles, motorhomes, camping trailers, tents and a big variety of camping goods, both domestic and imported. The total number of exhibitors were 113 companies. 95,300 people visited this largest show of its kind in Asia. On the main stage set up in the center of the place, various programs were performed, such as a talk show, a classroom for family camping as well as music band. Also a special area for new types of sport was demonstrated aiming at the expansion of the outdoor leisure. Here a lot of children challenged flying disk, target ball, kick skater and so on. So visitors enjoyed the camping in the heart of the metropolitan.
Autocamping Guide 2004
Japan Autocamping Federation issued "Autocamping Guide 2004"in 100.000 copies which comprises information on campsites in Japan. Remarkable is that the English inscription are provided for the names of prefectures, towns and campsites so that foreigners too can use it, Furthermore the guide introduces the same symbols for the services and facilities available at the various campsites on the base of the symbols which F.I.C.C. was currently working on. It enables foreigners to understand the contents of the booklets.
