The ICA Gem Mine Tour of Tanzania, which had been scheduled to take place from June 26 through July 4, has been postponed until a still undisclosed date in 2003. The decision was announced by Joseph M. Menzie, president of the International Colored Gemstone Association.

In a message to ICA membership, Menzie wrote that ICA executive regretfully decided to postpone the Tanzania tour out of security considerations. “The threat of a new wave of international terrorism, in conjunction with increased terrorist activity in areas heretofore untouched, have combined to make international travel far less attractive than it was just a matter of months ago,” he stated.

Menzie said that ICA was “very hopeful that current tensions will ease and that the strong peace initiatives underway will result in a cessation of hostile action around the world.” The Tanzanian Gem Mine Tour has tentatively been rescheduled for the fall, in the fall and new dates will be announced as soon as they are available.

In the meantime, plans for ICA’s two other Gem Mine Tours scheduled for 2003 are proceeding as intended. The first will take place in Brazil, from Aug. 16 to 24, and the second will take place in Sri Lanka, from Sept. 3 to 8.

ICA’s Gem Mine Tours have are being promoted to enhance the public’s interest in colored gemstones. Following the extraordinary success of its two pilot Gem Mine Tours—in Australia in 2001 and in Sri Lanka in January of this year—ICA decided to open participation in the tours to the media and the general public.

“Adventure-type trips, which take people off the beaten track, are extremely popular these days,” Menzie explained. “And trips that combine far-off, exotic locations with the romance of colored gemstones are certain to strike a chord with travelers.”

Additional information about the Gem Mine Tours is available on ICA’s website at www.gemstone.org.

JCK