| While Prince Albert prepares to mark the first | | | | overtaking. |
| year of his succession to the Principality of | | | | Monte Carlo Hotel |
| Monaco, a local destination guide suggests that the | | | | Tradition and modernity have long been a feature |
| second smallest country in the world is in safe | | | | of Monaco, and as well as a first class |
| hands and can look forward to years of | | | | infrastructure, Monaco can boast one of the |
| progressive economic and social policies that | | | | world's top hotels in the Hotel de Paris Monte |
| extend well beyond the borders of Monaco. | | | | Carlo. |
| 'Prince Albert has changed his playboy image', | | | | Along with the banking and finance sectors that |
| they say, 'since coming to power he has taken | | | | help Monaco's economy to be one of Europe's |
| the initiative on environmental issues, for example | | | | most successful, tourism also plays a major part, |
| in April he went to the North Pole to draw | | | | with many visitors making day trips from |
| attention to his fellow world leaders that the | | | | neighbouring France and Italy. |
| environment should be top of their agenda, and | | | | 'The Monaco Grand Prix plays a part of course', |
| he has made a concerted effort to put the | | | | comment YourMonaco, 'but many tourists want |
| environment on the Monaco map of issues that | | | | to see what it is really like to be in Monte Carlo, |
| need addressing'. | | | | the millionaire's playground. Monaco hotels enjoy |
| The environment seems to be of particular | | | | high occupation levels despite the day trippers |
| concern to Prince Albert, and with this in mind the | | | | though, as so many business people are in |
| 2006 Monaco Yacht Show will be carbon neutral. | | | | Monaco for two or three days'. |
| The organisers will be paying for a variety of | | | | Property prices in Monaco are among the highest |
| green projects in Europe and further afield, | | | | in the world, with one bedroom apartments after |
| including enough wind turbines in New Zealand to | | | | closing costs starting at around a million Euros. |
| generate power for 50,000 homes. | | | | It's thought unlikely that the new island to be built |
| In two further steps earlier this year to increase | | | | off Monaco will reduce prices much overall despite |
| Monaco's influence in world affairs and to promote | | | | the increase in the number of property units |
| Prince Albert's concern for the environment, the | | | | available as Monaco real estate is always in |
| Monaco government announced that it would | | | | demand. |
| calculate GDP for the first time, enabling Monaco | | | | Tribune properties who specialise in Monaco real |
| to meet the UN's target of 0.7 per cent for | | | | estate believe that most new apartments will be |
| developing countries, and Prince Albert himself | | | | sold to investors off plan well in advance of any |
| founded a new foundation as 'part of his personal | | | | building work starting. |
| commitment for the protection of the | | | | 'The problem with property in Monaco is not the |
| environment and for sustainable development'. | | | | lack of buyers', they say, 'but more the lack of |
| Prince Albert's father, Prince Rainier who ruled | | | | good properties for buyers to choose from. |
| Monaco for fifty years was known as the 'builder | | | | Hopefully the new island will address that. |
| prince', as Monaco grew out of all recognition while | | | | Everyone in Monaco is aware of how important |
| he was in power, transforming the principality | | | | the environment is thanks to Prince Albert's |
| from a European backwater to Europe's top tax | | | | initiatives in pushing it up the political agenda, and |
| haven and home to many of Europe's top | | | | any new developments will be low rise. With the |
| businessmen and sports stars. | | | | good Monaco weather expect to see plenty of |
| Prince Albert has continued his father's tradition, | | | | solar panels on the roofs to make the buildings |
| with plans recently announced for an island to be | | | | energy efficient'. |
| built off Monte Carlo which will increase the size of | | | | In his first year Prince Albert has successfully |
| the world's second smallest country. But bidders | | | | made the people of Monaco aware of global |
| have been asked to plan the project with the | | | | warming and taken steps to combat it, and for |
| environment in mind, as well as the Monaco Grand | | | | his second year and beyond he is likely to be |
| Prix. The possibilty exists that the Grand Prix | | | | campaigning just as hard at home and abroad on |
| circuit will be changed to encompass the new | | | | the issue he believes in so much. |
| island - and with it more opportunities for | | | | |