Backpacker island in media spotlight
The mountainous, remote Indonesian island of Flores, previously little known on the tourist trail except as a destination for backpackers, is this morning in the centre of the media’s spotlight following the discovery of a new species of ape-man.
Scientists have uncovered remains of three-foot-tall humans, now officially names Homo Floresiensis – or Flores Man – who are thought to have been alive as little as 13,000 years ago.
Visitors to the island have long been told folk tales about pigmy forest dwellers; it now appears that there really was another species of human being living alongside homo sapiens.
The Independent quotes Professor Mike Norwood, of the joint Australian / Indonesian team that excavated the remains, as saying that he “could not believe” the discovery: “We believe their ancestors reached the islands in bamboo rafts. The clear implication is … these little humans were intelligent and almost certainly had language.”
Despite certain sections of the media suggesting that there may still be Homo Floresiensis alive on the island, The Independent reports that Flores was hit by a huge volcanic eruption some 12,000 years ago and that there is no record of the species living after this date.
Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad Ltd
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Marginal increase for New York City tourism in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments