Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Blog

One-of-a-kind Volunteer 100km Race with Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset

2009-06-26T14:40:00.004-04:00

Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset - "The World's Most Beautiful 100km Run" - is an annual event that allows runners to experience some of the most spectacular and pristine trail running in the world as well as a week of discovery and exploration.

While the race offers a challenging competition, it also provides the opportunity to be part of the important efforts to preserve the beauty of Hovsgol National Park and the local cultural identity.

About the 2009 Event: July 18-25, 2009

Participants taking part in the Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset have the option to complete a marathon (42km) distance or the 100km course. International participants will arrive in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, on Saturday, July 18, and fly to Camp Toilogt, located on the shore of Lake Hovsgol. Camp Toilogt will be the site of the start and finish line of the race. Prior to the race, which will take place on July 22, participants have the opportunity to acclimatize to the altitude (1650 meters) and become acquainted with the course. For those interested, horseback riding, fishing, hiking and visiting local families (including Tsaatan reindeer herders) will also be available. Register for the run here

Hovsgol National Park Litter Education & Control Project

Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset is also a non-profit initiative working to support the implementation of the "zero-litter policy" in the national park. The proceeds from the 2001 event and participants' donations have funded the initial set-up cost for the litter control project (US$5,000), as well as the ongoing operation costs (US$12,000) for hiring additional park rangers, providing eco-friendly trash bags, and communication and educational materials. Read more

>> Find Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset (TIES NGO Member) on Ecotourism Explorer

Win a Sea Turtle Conservation Voluntourism Trip with Planeterra

2009-06-26T13:54:00.004-04:00

Planeterra is giving away a voluntourism trip for two to Costa Rica Sea Turtle Conservation Project, through BudgetTravel's "True Stories" contest. The "True Stories" section highlight funny, strange, heartwarming, ridiculous (brief 250-word) travel stories, and the editor picks the best story. To win the Planeterra trip, enter your true travel story for the summer edition (deadline: August 28, 2009).

About the Costa Rica Sea Turtle Conservation Project

This sea turtle project is a science-based conservation program, which was created with the purpose of protecting female sea turtles, nests, and hatchlings laid on the Matapalo beach, against poachers and natural and introduced predators. A turtle hatchery protects the eggs of this endangered species and the program has ensured the survival of the sea turtles with a large increase in the number of hatchlings in the area. Local staff and volunteers also collect information about nesting activities that is shared with the community and local and regional authorities.

About the Planeterra Foundation

Planeterra was founded in 2003 by G.A.P Adventures, the largest independent adventure travel company in the world. Planeterra evolved out of a long history of travelers committed to finding ways to give back to the people and places they visit. Planeterra selects the projects and works with G.A.P Adventures to arrange voluntour travel programs. more...

WHL.travel Caring for the Destination Program

2009-06-14T22:18:00.011-04:00

WHL.travel Caring for the Destination Program: What Has Worked and What Hasn't By Len Cordiner, CEO, WHL.travel

About whl.travel

Worldhotel-link.com Limited (WHL) is owned and operated by a team from Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, India, South Africa, Switzerland, the USA and Vietnam, working with local partners who do all the things best done locally (e.g. working directly with the local accommodation providers and with travelers), and WHL does all the things best done centrally (e.g. technology, web marketing).

Generally, we seek out experienced local tour operators as our local partners, although occasionally we also work with local industry associations or NGOs. In every case they are people with an intimate knowledge of tourism in their destination and people we are proud to be working with. We offer you, the traveler, access to these erstwhile little heard-of hotels, guesthouses and hostels plus local tours and activities via one e-marketplace network.

For example, in the Solomon Islands many of the properties listed on the WHL member site are on the outer islands and have no Internet access or even telephone access. Instead, our local partner contacts them via HF radio to pass on bookings, update allotment etc. To the traveler, it looks like seamless online booking such as you would make on any other travel site, but in fact there is much different process at play with us - what we call our digital to bicycle interface.

WHL Caring for the Destination Program

In doing the work of collecting and posting online information about small accommodation providers, WHL identified many small SMEs that are actively engaged in projects which, in their own way, are positive steps towards improving sustainable outcomes for the destination. None of the initiatives are "certifiable" to existing standards, but they address specific local needs, and are meaningful to the businesses involved.

WHL then started to write up some of these initiatives and highlighting them for travelers as "brand differentiators" for the respective accommodation providers. These initiatives were grouped under a "Caring for the Destination" banner, helping encourage the local businesses to deliver and sell unique experiences.

Initially, we thought the logic of what we were doing was compelling and that both our local partners and their suppliers would be happy to get on board - it was free after all and intended to help their businesses. Sadly, however, this wasn't the case, which led us to re-evaluating the role of each of the key stakeholders: the local partners, the accommodation providers and the travelers, in order to work out what we needed to do better.

Part of the problem was that we didn’t recruit well enough in the beginning. We also underestimated the difficulty many of our local partners would have getting small accommodation providers to open up about what they were doing. It was a little bit of the blind leading the blind - one party not being too sure what they were looking for and the other party not knowing if they had it. The information they did collect in many cases was dry and uninteresting, and in other cases of very doubtful value.

To address this problem, the first thing we did was to improve our recruiting and induction of all new partners in the network. We now spend a lot of time screening new applicants and also training them in both why sustainable tourism is important for their business as well as how to source the information needed from suppliers. We have also worked with Dr Xavier Font and his colleagues at ICRT (Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK) to try and turn the information we do collect from accommodation providers into a story which sells the benefits for the traveler.
As Xavier has often told out network partners, "this hotel is saving water by not washing sheets and towels daily," for example, is not necessarily a good story for the traveler. Initiatives like this are better translated into benefits the traveler can relate to: things that will make their stay more enjoyable in some way or help them save money. It may simply be a guilt alleviation benefit that is being offered, but even then a story about the impact of the particular water saving initiatives may provide a stronger message.

The next big challenge is engaging travelers. They need to drive the signals to the accommodation and tour suppliers that doing good is good business, i.e. accommodation providers doing positive work in sustainability need to be getting more bookings so that their compatriots in the destination will start to follow their lead.

We have had two problems here. First is that whl.travel being a relatively new player and a small player on the global stage, travelers don’t know us for the most part and the volumes of bookings we generate are still small by comparison with the big online booking platforms like Expedia, Travelocity, Priceline, etc. In other words, even if we drive proportionately more bookings to those suppliers that are 'caring for the destination,' the volumes we generate is still small - too small to be significant. Solving this is not easy, but we are trying to reach out to other online booking companies, in the hopes that if many others joined this effort, the impact could start to be felt.

The second challenge has been a bit of a brand conflict within whl.travel. We started life with a mission to help extend the benefits of tourism to the little guys in the developing world. In other words, we were more about pro-poor tourism than sustainable tourism. The whl.travel business model of having local partners in each destination was implemented to connect product from the developing world to the global market. Our brand, therefore, does not speak explicitly to sustainable travel, and those booking on the whl.travel sites will see listings without the "caring for the destination" rating, as well as those with the "caring" scores.

This means travelers with a real interest in sustainable travel may overlook whl.travel and opt for sites that mainly focus on responsible/sustainable tourism. To address this problem, we are also working on a new portal to be launched later this year, which will sell only "caring for the destination" product, alongside other travel product supplied from outside the whl.travel network.

>> Find whl.travel on Ecotourism Explorer!

>> Check out whl.travel member WHL Travel Santa Marta (Colombia)'s winning entry in Ashoka's Changemakers competition.

>> whl.travel is nominated for TravelMole's annual web awards (reponsible tourism category) - Vote by June 16th!

Tell the Travel Industry How You Want Them to Get Greener

2009-06-10T13:53:00.003-04:00

Tourism and hospitality leaders want to make your vacations and business travel a "greener" experience for you, and for the planet. Global environmental and travel organizations, suppliers and media have joined with CMI Green and BBMG to produce this first-ever, comprehensive Green Traveler Survey. Your important feedback will help airlines, cruise lines, hotels, tour operators and destinations make their operations and communications greener.

Your answers are strictly confidential - none of the information you provide will be used for marketing purposes, nor will you be added to any lists without your optional, express consent at the conclusion of the survey.

Completing the online survey takes only 12-15 minutes, and as an incentive to complete it, TEN WINNERS will receive a choice of a $50 iTunes gift card, or a $50 Amazon credit, or a $50 donation to the charity of your choice.

Please take a moment now to take the survey. Your feedback really matters! Please also email the link to your friends and colleagues, and ask them to complete their survey by June 15th.

First Hotel Certified under Sustainable Tourism Standard in Brazil

2009-06-05T16:23:00.004-04:00

"We saw getting certified as the recognition for all the hard work we put into making sure that our hotel is responsibly managed and doing well for our business, the community and our customers" - Carlos Catan Antonio e Yasmin, owner, Hotel Canto das Águas

Hotel Canto das Aguas

(Source: EcoBrasil) The hotel Canto das Aguas ("Song of the Waters") in Brazil's beautiful Chapada Diamantina region is the first hotel to be certified under the official Brazilian Sustainable Tourism Standard (ABNT NBR 15.401).

The hotel was established more than 20 years ago in the historic diamond town of Lençois in the Chapada Diamantina, one of Brazil´s top outdoor adventure destinations, in the heart of the State of Bahia. The hotel is known for is charm and hospitality and its attention to its socio-environmental responsibilities. It has been part of the Roteiros de Charme, an independent hotel network that has promoted an environmental code of conduct since 2003.

The Chapada Diamantina ("Diamond Tablelands") forms the northern part of the ancient Espinhaço mountain range, which runs all the way to Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais. The area combines breathtaking scenery with high biodiversity of plants, including showy orchids and bromeliads.

The Brazilian Sustainable Tourism Standard is one of the results of Brazil Sustainable Tourism Program, coordinated by the Instituto de Hospitalidade and financed by IADB and the Brazilian Government. Apart from developing the standard and incorporating it into Brazil’s official system, the Program (called PCTS/Bem Receber in Brazil) created best practice manuals and offered extensive training programs for accommodations by destination. Since 2009, two organizations in Brazil are accredited at INMETRO, to audit and certify for conformity assessment with the NBR 15.401.

With this first certification for Canto das Águas, the Brazil-wide investment in informing and preparing destinations and accommodations, more hotels are expected to follow suit.

>> Learn more about sustainable tourism certification in Brazil
>> Find EcoBrasil on Ecotourism Explorer

Planeterra Foundation: Thoughts on Voluntourism

2009-06-02T13:51:00.004-04:00

Travelers Giving Back to the People and Places They Visit...

Planeterra was founded in 2003 by G.A.P Adventures, the largest independent adventure travel company in the world. Planeterra evolved out of a long history of travelers committed to finding ways to give back to the people and places they visit. Planeterra selects the projects and works with G.A.P Adventures to arrange voluntour travel programs. more...

Richard Edwards, Director, Planeterra Foundation on Voluntourism

"Voluntourism - it’s been a hot item in articles, tweets and blogs lately. We define it as travel experiences that provide the opportunity to contribute to local community projects and development initiatives with some time off to visit the highlights of that particular destination or country. This kind of travel creates opportunities for greater interaction with local communities, so it’s essential that we consider the impacts these trips can have to ensure there are benefits for local people and their environments.

Planeterra Foundation challenges you to look closely at the following questions and insofar as possible, share our concerns – which we are sure you will be yours as well – with your audiences.

When is my need to “do good” potentially a selfish act on my part?
Am I helping or hindering by taking time and resources away from the community and project managers just so I have a “feel good” project to work on?
Are valuable time, effort and resources being wasted and misappropriated just to prepare for and accommodate a voluntourist?
Can I really make a contribution in a lasting, significant way in the short time I’m there?
What is the optimum duration for a meaningful voluntourism stay?
Is the project just a “front” for fundraising or attempt to generate exposure, creating contrived situations for my benefit and not really the benefit of the community?

Learn about Planeterra's Voluntour Programs

Here's how we at Planeterra think the growing voluntourism industry needs to address these concerns:

Programs must be set up to engage the voluntourist in task-specific scenarios so people can see the tangible results of their contributions.
Voluntourism programs are ideally no shorter than five days and optimally 14 days.
It's vital to have a designated tour leader or guide who helps facilitate the volunteer experience so that project staff aren’t taken away from running their regular programs.
Designated projects are ongoing and sustainable; they are not simply there just to 'entertain' travelers. This being said, many of the activities would be taking place without travelers present, but it is because of the voluntourists that these tasks are able to be completed.
It's important for voluntourists to have realistic expectations; while they won't change the world by volunteering for a few days, they will open themselves up to learn more about a local community that can be shared with others when returning home.
There's an overall need in the voluntourism travel sector to shift the focus toward sustainability. This enables projects to be taken over eventually by a community, thus minimizing dependence on outside help.
Everyone needs to recognize that the end game is total community control and quite possibly the disappearance and solution of issues and conditions that brought the original need for the project - and voluntourists - in the first place.

Here at Planeterra, where there is a need, we recognize it, and we act quickly to meet it. Whatever the voluntour project Planeterra has the insight, agility and technical and financial wherewithal to successfully see it through. Our goal is to empower local people and communities to strengthen their well being while promoting long-term, environmentally responsible growth.

>> Planeterra's sustainable community development projects
>> Learn how you can get involved

Wilderness Scotland Flies the Flag for Responsible Tourism

2009-05-23T14:05:00.004-04:00

Wilderness Scotland, an award-winning adventure travel company in the Highlands and Islands, has been awarded the maximum 5 star Responsible Tourism rating from AITO.

Stevie Christie, Director commented, "AITO represents the very best of specialised British Tour Operators and we are extremely proud that our policies and practices have been recognised at the highest level."

Photo: Wilderness Scotland Facebook Page

Wilderness Scotland’s integrated approach to sustainability is constantly evolving, the company recently received accreditation from Climate Care for financially offsetting their carbon emissions by 110%. They also make sure that each of their trips has a maximum of 8 clients and most of their holidays start at train stations where the journey begins, to reduce the environmental impact and to encourage clients to travel by train rather than fly.

This year, they launched their pioneering Conservation Contribution Scheme which provides financial benefits to the Scottish Wildlife Trust, John Muir Trust and Trees for Life; charities which conserve the wilderness areas visited on its trips.

"Our bookings are up this year despite many other businesses suffering," says Christie, "proving that green business is good business. We hope that our success will encourage other companies to follow more sustainable procedures sooner rather than later."

>> Find Wilderness Scotland on Ecotourism Explorer!
>> Read Stevie's ecoDestinations Soapbox comment (March 2009)

TIES Member in the Spotlight: Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset

2009-05-12T11:52:00.005-04:00

Hovsgol National Park has become one of the most attractive destinations in Mongolia, both for foreign and Mongolian tourists. The Park's tourism assets are the unique combination of:

Beautiful, pristine and untouched nature: of the purest lake on earth, mountains, larch forest, flora and fauna
Lifestyle and culture of the local inhabitants: horse-based autonomous nomadic existence, herding, shamanism, local beliefs and customs

In recent years, increased tourism in the Park, infrastructure development, electricity lines and mobile phone stations has becoming the case of uncontrolled littering around the camps set-up for visitors and at scenic spots, selected for picnics or camping. Over 90% of he garbage disposed of improperly in the park are done so by Mongolian visitors and Mongolian employees of the visitors camps.

Up to date, there is practically no non-biodegradable products that are produced in Mongolia: virtually all plastics and other polluting elements are imported. Garbage begets garbage: without quick action, the Park will quickly lose its pristine condition and the friendly welcome to visitors from the locals.

Swiss and American friends together with Hovsgol Travel Company set up the non-profit Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset Ultrarunning event in 1998 in order to preserve Hovsgol National Park's nature and culture, and in 1999, a litter education and control project which aimed to support the Park's sustainable development. The project promotes Hovsgol National Park as a travel destination to a culturally open public and by ensuring that the Park's local inhabitants can keep their cultural identity.

In 2008, volunteers installed signs shaped like a shaman’s drum bearing the message "Do Not Dump Your Waste If You Respect Nature" on 12 hills along the road from Ulaanbaatar to Hovsgol.

The project team has also organized a number of activities to provide educational opportunities for the Hovsgol community, raising awareness of the negative impacts of dumping waste and garbage.

Through events such as essay and freehand sketch contests ("My Litter-Free Hovsgol"), the team has also helped raise awareness of environmental issues among local children in Hatgal Village.

The project distributes an average 10-20 thousand garbage bags per year at the entrance of the Hovsgol National Park. Special biodegradable garbage bags provided by Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset are manufactured in Shanghai, China and cost US$0.50 per unit or MNT600 per unit. Air transportation cost for importing into Mongolia is MNT300 per bag. Based on this, we spend an average MNT13 million per year only on environmentally friendly garbage bags. Anyone visiting Hovsgol can obtain the biodegradable garbage bags free of charge at the entrance of the Hovsgol National Park.

Tom Baatar, local resident, said: "My father Lustai (spirit of Water) have treated us to respect the Nature, worship and bring the donations to Natural spirits. Hatgal was industrial town, and after the privatization in Mongolia, industrial town like Hatgal was closed down, many jobless people with limited number of cattle left vacant with very little territory of pastures. Tourism is the main income for us right now, myself I rent the horses and work as the horse trip guide in summer for Trekmongolia and MS2S for the last 10 years. With the income I get, I provide the food, clothes and other belongings to my family. 11 years ago we had a very interesting event: a running event. My aunt ... said, I’ve never seen people racing, only horses were racing before. Everyone was out of the ger to see the runners. It was a very new for us, I remember, how I was excited to work at the aid station. I was at the aid station which was nearby Hirvesteig, standing on the heel, seeing sunrise, smelling the morning frost, I had a sensitive feeling that some changes were going to happen in life of our people. We were only 12 families left on the western shore of Hovsgol lake. The runners are very different from regular tourists, it was very strange, they run and don’t get awards. Later Erke explained us, that our Hovsgol lake, trees, mountains and even little flowers, which weren't noticed by us are the gifts for them. To be honest, it was the first time I felt very proud of my homeland. We say the man known by his deeds, MS2S have made their promises. Beside offering garbage bags to visitors, the main thing they have educated us. My father used to smoke pipe cigar, all the Mongolians, Russians brought us first cigarettes and rapped candies, we didn’t know how the plastic, cigarettes buds, cans can be so harmful for the nature until we’ve learned from MS2S."

>> Find Mongolia Sunrise to Sunset on Ecotourism Explorer

Tourism Futures Conference: Refocusing Australian Tourism

2009-05-11T16:04:00.003-04:00

Despite the Australian tourism industry being in crisis mode, academic and keynote speaker at this year’s Tourism Futures conference Dr Stefan Gossling is calling for an industry wide restructure of current business models.

"When the economy emerges from the current recession, Australia tourism should look to relaunch itself with a more environmentally compatible business model," said Dr Gossling, Professor at Lund University, Sweden.

Dr Gossling is one of the world’s most highly regarded academics specialising in the impact of climate change on the tourism industry.

“Such a refocus would see Australia abandon targets for increasingly high volumes of tourists. The only strategy for success into the future is in an industry where visitors stay longer and spend more,” said Dr Gossling.

Dr Gossling will make his first ever visit to Australia for the premier annual gathering of industry leaders at the Tourism Futures National Conference, with his visit sponsored by Griffith University.

Delegates and industry leaders will be motivated and inspired by the creative solutions on offer at the conference, including the strategies outlined by Dr Gossling.

The issues currently facing the industry are not insurmountable – to redefine your future in tourism this is a conference you must attend!
more...

2009 Wild Asia's Responsible Tourism Awards now OPEN!

2009-05-07T13:31:00.004-04:00

Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award - Nominations are now open till 29th May 2009!

Wild Asia is looking to hear from accommodation operators from across Asia (big or small, privately run or community driven). The awards, now in its fourth year is one of the only Responsible Tourism awards driven by Asians, and aims to support the creation of sustainable destinations in Asia. All entries are screened by Wild Asia's team using a self-assessment checklist (aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria) and all finalists are visited by a team of fact-finders. The winners will be announced this year at CSR Asia's Annual Summit in Kuala Lumpur 28-30th October 2009.

>> Learn more about the 2009 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards

Wild Asia is a social enterprise working to support the conservation of natural areas and the communities dependent upon their resources. Through partnerships with individuals and businesses that are socially and environmentally responsible, Wild Asia promotes sustainable practices that will minimise adverse impacts on the environment, ensure that local communities are engaged and that local cultures are respected. more...

Toledo Ecotourism Association (TEA), Belize

2009-05-05T12:34:00.003-04:00

(From PLENTY1 YouTube Channel) The Toledo Ecotourism Association (TEA) is a group of Mayan and Garifuna villages located in the rainforest and other endangered eco-systems in the southern part of Belize.

The TEA operates guesthouses in ten villages (nine Mayan and one Garifuna) and its trained guides lead visitors on jungle tours, cave exploration, canoe trips and village tours.

The mission of the TEA. is to create jobs in the villages, keep tourism to a manageable level, and educate visitors about the beauty and value of the indigenous cultures and the environment that the native people inhabit. more...

Protecting Where the Wild Things Are

2009-04-29T13:34:00.003-04:00

Where the wild things are is often where inquisitive travelers congregate, potentially setting up a love-it-to-death dynamic in the visited environment.

The Galapagos Islands is a region folks love to visit. Managing environmental and infrastructure demands created by upwards of 145,000 visitors a year is front of mind with one visionary travel company. Ecoventura has taken an environmental leadership role to create structure that will ensure that visitors can continue to come here.

This family-owned cruise company transports 4,000+ passengers annually aboard a fleet of three expedition vessels, identical, superior first-class 20-passenger yachts with 10 double cabins. They also operate a state-of-the-art live-aboard dive boat, the M/Y Sky Dancer.

One of Ecoventura’s vessels, the M/Y Eric, was recently modified to accommodate sustainability concerns, namely the use of fossil fuels. The hope is to have the remainder of the fleet refitted with hybrid wind and solar power by 2011.

Santiago Dunn, Ecoventura’s visionary president and owner, hopes that his company’s leadership will also impact other companies that showcase this fragile ecosystem to thousands of visitors annually. At present there are an estimated 80 registered tour boats that ply Galapagos waters transporting folks to all ends of the archipelago.

Darwin’s paradise seen under the expert guidance of Ecoventura focuses on these small yachts to diminish environmental impact on the eco-system. Once in the habitat of myriad creatures, small groups of no more than 10 persons per guide hike lava fields and beach. Guests also snorkel, kayak and dive to witness sea life and marine mammals. Dunn views as his most important life work the mission of sustaining and ameliorating the quality of the marine environment in this region known as The Galapagos.

To this end in the past decade, Dunn has through a series of targeted projects, led Ecoventura to become the pacesetter in establishing regional standards for responsible and sustainable environmental practices. As a result of these efforts, following are a few of Ecoventura’s projects and resulting accolades:

In 2000, Ecoventura became one of the first recipients of SmartVoyager, a voluntary environmental certification developed by Rainforest Alliance and Corporacion y Desarollo. The program gives a “green seal of approval” to tour boats that comply with requirements to tread lightly on the area’s fragile eco-system. In order to adhered to Smart Voyager’s guidelines, Dunn and his team implemented various rigorous measure, including: purchasing water makers (reverse osmosis) systems for yachts; treating waste water (black and grey) with purified ozone; and replacing all the engines on dinghies with four stroke engines, which are quieter and use less fuel.
In 2005, Dunn received the prestigious Individual Sustainable Standard-Setter award for making a significant contribution to environmental conservation.
In 2006, Ecoventura in partnership with NativeEnergy, became the first Carbon Neutral operation in Galapagos (and Ecuador) and also with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) established the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund (GMBF) with the objective to strengthen the local communities’ ability to manage natural resources through environmental education and marine conservation. Since the fund was created, it has raised $171,000.00, of which $160,950.00 directly benefits various projects.
In October 2008, 40 solar panels and two wind generators were installed to Ecoventura’s M/Y ERIC, thereby launching the first hybrid tout yacht in the Galapagos. The goal is to produce 9kw per day or the equivalent of 17% of the energy used to run the on board generators be powered by alternative renewable energy. The project was financed through a partnership with Toyota, a supporter of the WWF and GMBF and other conservation programs in Galapagos.
On November 12, 2008, Ecoventura was presented with the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism – Best in a Marine Environment award during World Travel Market in London. The citation noted the company’s contributions toward improving conditions for local people in Galapagos and for being among the first operators to be independently audited.

Even as this work is going on, in the summer of 2007, UNESCO put the Galapagos on its World Heritage sites risk list, citing alien species and pollution from tourists and immigrants as key issues. Dunn views this as a positive step because, he said, “It will raise awareness so that corrective measures are taken.”

>> Contact Ecoventura: toll-free 1.800.633.7972, or e-mail info@galapagosnetwork.com.
>> Find Ecoventura on Ecotourism Explorer

TIES Member in the Spotlight: Intrepid Travel

2009-04-29T10:14:00.003-04:00

Intrepid Travel's team spirit has made the company one of the top "Best Places to Work" by Outside Magazine (May 2009 issue), reports the award-winning Intrepid Express newsletter.

Intrepid was ranked No. 1 out of 30 selected companies that best enable employees to balance productivity with an active, eco-conscious lifestyle. As Tiffany Richards, President of Intrepid Travel's Boulder office, notes, Intrepid's philosophy is "very much about promoting responsible travel, getting off the beaten path, helping to support positive change, and having fun along the way."

The world's leading responsible travel company, Intrepid takes the well-being of its employees seriously, and aims to "keep them smiling when they come into the office each day." The company perks for Intrepid employees at the Boulder offies include free public transportation passes for the Denver/Boulder area to encourage the environmentally-friendly use of public transport, paid days off for volunteering and a generous 4-week paid time off policy. Intrepid also encourages socializing with a monthly pot-luck lunch, on-the-company Friday happy hour and a bring-your-pet-to-work policy.

Headquartered in Australia, and offering a wide range of tours around the world, Intrepid's core purpose is to "enrich peoples lives by creating unique, interactive travel experiences."

>> Learn more about Intrepid
>> Find Intrepid Travel on Ecotourism Explorer

EcoCurrents April 2009 - ITCs for Ecotourism

2009-04-21T22:00:00.002-04:00

The April 2009 edition of TIES EcoCurrents eMagazine is now available! You can view or download the eMagazine online at Member Center (Member log-in required).

EcoCurrents is the quarterly e-magazine of TIES, featuring current industry trends and best practice examples from around the world. Each issue focuses on a specific theme within ecotourism and sustainable travel. TIES members receive EcoCurrents as part of their member benefits. If you are not yet receiving EcoCurrents, please join TIES to receive complimentary copies of EcoCurrents and other great benefits!

In This Issue - ICTs for Ecotourism:

Ecotourism Explorer - ConnectWith the advancement and growing use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) across the world, the effective use of ICTs has become a key element of marketing strategies. More and more travelers today are taking advantage of the convenience of online booking, and utilizing the Internet for their travel research. Try some simple tips introduced here and start enjoying the benefits of ICTs - a world of opportunities can be just a few clicks away!

Featured Stories:

Indigenous Tourism, Biodiversity and Web-Based Initiatives By Oliver Hillel and Sofía Gutiérrez, Convention on Biological Diversity
Connecting Communities through Integrated Web-based Technologies By Sylvie Blangy and Scott Mitchell
ICT4Ecotourism @Wat Yai Chaimongkol Venerable Phra Maha Nutthanit Sumano (Wat Yai Chaimongkol, Thailand)

Social Media How-To Tips:

How to Get Started in Social Media Promotions for Your Ecotourism Business By Nancy Harrison, Adventure Travel Media Source
Is Blogging Right For You? By Jackie Fisher
Twitter: A New Tool for Researching Your Trip Away By Stephen Chapman, Make Travel Fair

Special Report:

Can Sustainability Survive in Hard Economic Times? By Dina M. Belon "Dealing with sustainability during these economic conditions is a lot like what you might feel when in an airplane traveling with your child and the oxygen masks drop from overhead...."

>> Learn more about EcoCurrents

TIES Member in the Spotlight: Boundless Journeys

2009-04-20T17:47:00.002-04:00

Boundless Journeys' Annual Charity Event, An Ideal Way to Help Those in Need (and visit Machu Picchu)

Boundless Journeys' annual charity event incorporates meaningful community service into an amazing travel adventure. Boundless Journeys's August 2-9, 2009 Peru: The Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu trip serves as a special charity event to benefit the Instituto Machu Picchu and a community school in the village of Huanca.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people visit Peru and its iconic archeological site, Machu Picchu, but very few visitors get off the beaten path and truly connect with the people and places they are there to experience.

"The Huanca community school is in need of renovation and restoration," says Karen Cleary, Peru Trip Manager. "Our donation to the project of approximately $4,900 USD, plus the time our guests will spend working, will allow the community to accomplish this important goal."

Boundless Journeys is committed to operating responsibly, and actively implements various sustainability practices - traveling in small groups, forming partnerships with local people, and providing support to indigenous co-ops. Read more

>> Find Boundless Journeys on Ecotourism Explorer

>> Boundless Journeys' blog

ESTC 2009 Call for Speakers

2009-04-17T15:43:00.007-04:00

Don't miss the opportunity to play a role at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2009 (ESTC 2009), the premier annual conference on greening the tourism industry in the U.S. and Canada.

Bringing together 400+ industry leaders and community stakeholders from across the region, the ESTC 2009 promises to be THE meeting place for ecotourism and sustainable tourism professionals, fostering opportunities and inspiring innovative change for sustainable tourism development.

Want to share your knowledge and experience in the following areas?

Economic sustainability: Sustaining and growing tourism business in a troubled economy, strengthening your bottom line, making the most of your marketing budget and staying ahead in today's green economy.
Environmental sustainability: Carbon management, conservation strategies, public and private land initiatives, latest in green technologies and challenges and lessons learned for operators.
Social sustainability: Promoting a sense of place, preserving authenticity, staying current in policy developments, win-win public-private partnerships and diversifying your products and audiences.

Review the detailed proposed session topic descriptions, and apply to present at the conference either as an individual speaker or as a panel (a group of two or more). All speaker applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the ESTC 2009 advisory committee. The deadline for the ESTC 2009 speaker applications is Friday, May 1st, 2009.

Submit Your Abstract

TIES Member in the Spotlight: Lapa Rios Ecolodge

2009-04-13T17:57:00.007-04:00

Photo: LapaRios.com

Lapa Rips Ecolodge has received many major awards and recognitions - including National Geographic Adventure's "50 Top Ecolodges: The Most Earth-Friendly Retreats in the World’s Most Spectacular Wilds" in 2009 and Conde Naste Traveler's "Gold List" in 2008 and 2009.

A recent addition to Lapa Rios Ecolodge's inspiring achievements is the 2009 Coastal Living Awards (Tourism category).

The Coastal Living Awards honor those working to protect and preserve coastal environments and coastlines for generations to come.

"Who would have guessed sustainability could be so chic? Basking in the cool ocean breezes from 350 feet above sea level, each palm-thatched bungalow is outfitted with locally made bamboo furniture, hammocks, and solar-heated showers. Rooms have private wooden decks with stunning Pacific Ocean panoramas. If you can tear yourself away, explore Lapa Rios' more than 25 interactive activities and guided tours. Karen suggests taking a sustainability tour of the ecolodge's practices and the native flora, planting a tree in the rain forest, or participating in the release of baby sea turtles.More than 60 area residents train and work at Lapa Rios, and they’re inspiring other locals to value and protect their resources." more...

TIES Member in the Spotlight: Cristalino Jungle Lodge

2009-04-12T18:35:00.004-04:00

Cristalino Jungle Lodge (TIES Business member), winner of the 2008 Condé Nast Traveler "World Savers" Award, is featured today in TreeHugger!

Read the TreeHugger article:
Cristalino Jungle Lodge: A Resort ACTUALLY Saving the Rainforest

"If you want to see the Amazon first hand, if you want to support local communities in their efforts to preserve the rainforest and all of its treasures and you want to keep your footprint barely visible then look no further than the Cristalino Jungle Lodge. For over 16 years, Vitoria Da Riva Carvalho and her crew have managed to make an almost entirely self-sustainable resort that is single-handedly responsible for preserving over 200,000 hectares (and counting) of rainforest." more...

Cristalino Foundation

In addition to its sustainable tourism initiatives, Cristalino Jungle Lodge contributes to conservation, education and capacity building efforts through the non-profit Cristalino Foundation. The Foundation is supported by the Lodge, in partnerships with other organizations including Botanic Kew Gardens and Fauna and Flora International, with its main projects focused on the buffer zones of the Cristalino State Park and the promotion of environmental awareness and the sustainable use of Amazon’s natural resources.

>> Learn more about Cristalino

2009 NET Conference Registration Is Now Open!

2009-04-10T12:48:00.006-04:00

Registration for the 2009 National Extension Tourism (NET) Conference, in Park City, Utah, June 14-17, 2009, is now open!!! Please help spread the word and visit the conference website for registration, hotel reservations, and local transportation information (Click on 2009 NET Conference-June 14-17, 2009).

Double Early Bird Registration closes on April 24, 2009, followed by Early Bird Registration closing on May 15th, after which Standard Registration will be in place.

Keynote Speakers:

Kelly Bricker, Associate Professor, University of Utah and Chair, International Ecotourism Society
Roger Brooks, Founding Member of the Award-Winning Destination Development Team
Dick Senese, Associate Dean, Community Vitality and Outreach, University of Minnesota Extension

The Conference Planning Committee has received over 70 proposals from Extension Professionals, students, and other professionals working in the broad area of outdoor recreation and tourism development for oral presentations, posters, and workshops in the following areas:

Agricultural Tourism
Rural Tourism Development
Heritage and Cultural Tourism
Ecotourism and Nature-Based Tourism
Tourism Education and Training
Tourism Marketing and Promotion
Tourism Research and Evaluation
Community and Regional Tourism Planning and Development
Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts of Tourism and Recreation

If you would still like to present and have not yet submitted a proposal, please contact Steve Burr, 2009 NET Conference Chair, at steve.burr@usu.edu. The 2009 NET Conference Program Agenda will be finalized in the next couple of weeks.

This will be a great conference, and a great opportunity to plan a Utah vacation around the conference! Learn more

Tourism Futures National Conference 2009

2009-04-09T11:18:00.005-04:00

About the Conference

Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland and Gold Coast Tourism are staging the seventh National Conference on Tourism Futures from 17-19 August 2009 at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, the Gold Coast.

The Conference takes a forward perspective on the industry, looking out over a ten year timeframe and examining opportunities and issues for the future. The 2009 conference theme is ‘Redefining the Future’ and will examine the ‘over the horizon’ trends and opportunities that are reshaping the future of Australian tourism.

Green Conference

The Tourism Futures National Conference 2008 offset 1.56 tonnes of CO2-e through Greenfleet accredited under the Department of Climate Change’s Greenhouse Friendly program (calculated by GHD: Sustainability & Climate Change division). The 2009 gas emissions footprint will also be offset at the conclusion of the conference.

Keynote Speakers

The Tourism Futures National Conference 2009 will feature an outstanding array of international and local speakers. One of the keynote addresses will be "Product Development of the cruise industry over the next 10 years" by Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia. "Carnival Australia has achieved some impressive results with Ann Sherry at the helm, and we are looking forward to hearing how it has tackled the current challenges with such overwhelming success," said Mr Tony Charters, Tourism Futures conference convener. Read full announcement

TIES New Website: Explorer 360° of Ecotourism!

2009-04-08T11:50:00.001-04:00

We're thrilled to roll out the new and improved look of our website, with colorful, easy-to-navigate features that will significantly enhance your exerience with the site. Wondering if there's something different about the way our logo looks? You're right: With the redesigning of the website, we've also updated our logo!

Start exploring - here are some key highlights of our new site:

Ecotourism Explorer

An online community featuring a state-of-the-art interactive map, Ecotourism Explorer is a global network for individuals and organizations committed to the principles of ecotourism. Every member has a unique profile on Ecotourism Explorer. Not yet a member? Join Now and get on the Map.

Ecotourism Job Board

Updated daily with new jobs, internship positions and volunteer opportunities, TIES Ecotourism Job Board is a new go-to place for students and professionals seeking new opportunities, and for organizations looking to advertise vacancies through a highly visible website.

Marketing Opportunities

Through Ecotourism Explorer, ecoDestinations, conferences, advertising, and member-to-member discounts, TIES offers various marketing benefits for members of all levels. Learn how you can take advantage of TIES global network to promote your ecotourism initiatives and reach your target audience!

Sustainable Travel in Hawaii

2009-04-01T12:43:00.006-04:00

University of Hawaii is hosting the one-day workshop, "Sustainable Travel in the Hawaiian Islands: Current obstacles and future opportunities" - which is the first in a series of interactive workshops that will engage key stakeholders to work together to identify opportunities, create solutions, and commit to actions that chart a path toward establishing the Hawaiian Islands as a destination of Sustainable Best Practices.

TIES Board member Masaru Takayama (Executive Director, Japan Ecolodge Association, and Director, Spirit of Japan Travel) will be presenting at the workshop, along with other expert speakers including: Ramsay Taum (University of Hawaii, TIM School), John Cusick (UHM Environmental Center, Sustainable Tourism Education Partnership Adviser), Harold Richins (University of Hawaii, TIM School), and William Durham (Stanford University's Center for Responsible Travel).

Organized in partnership with Hawaii Ecotourism Association (TIES Association Member), this workshop is designed to engage the members of Hawaii's travel industry members, private organizations, enterprises and the leaders of Hawaii. The conference is aimed at the issues of today, tomorrow and the future opportunities and priorities associated with sustainable travel in the Hawaiian Islands.

>> Register for the workshop (Early registration ends today!)

Tourism as the solution, not problem

2009-03-25T12:45:00.006-04:00

"Without tourism, the Pantanal (in South America), the world's largest wetland, would have just turned into a major cattle feed-lot for McDonald's" - Costas Christ, at the International Symposium on Sustainable Tourism Development

Highlighting the roles of tourism in supporting and promoting conservation, this article discusses the social, economic and environmental sustainability of travel and tourism, noting that "the very essence of tourism is selling culture and nature, and those must be protected or there will be no industry." But, can ecotourism be truly sustainable when it involves flying halfway around the world to reach the destination? Do the benefits of ecotourism, for the community and for the environment - outweigh the unavoidable footprints of travelers?

Sustainable tourism, like sustainable development, is "such a vague concept that no one disagrees with but can mean anything you want it to," says Richard Butler, professor at the University of Strathclyde, in Scotland. "As a result, there are many policies on sustainable development but not much action... From the climate change perspective, it doesn't matter if an eco-village in the Amazon rainforest is carbon neutral when tourists fly thousands of kilometers to get there." more...

Related articles:

Climate Conscious Wings to Costa Rica: A Project of CANAECO (PDF)
Ecotourism could help the Amazon reduce deforestation and handle climate change (WWF March 24, 2009)
More posts on "Traveling with Climate in Mind"

Check out "Milking the Rhino" on PBS

2009-03-24T10:46:00.004-04:00

"The Maasai of Kenya and Namibia’s Himba—two of the oldest cattle cultures on earth—are emerging from a century of 'white man’s conservation,' which turned their lands into off-limits game reserves. Now, with a new model of conservation, wildlife is back in their hands and the tribes are vying for a piece of the ecotourism pie. But can poachers become protectors?"

On April 7, the Emmy Award-winning PBS series INDEPENDENT LENS presents David Simpson's MILKING THE RHINO, which examines the deepening conflict between humans and animals in an ever-shrinking world. It is the first major documentary to explore wildlife conservation from the perspective of people who live with wild animals. more...

Have you seen "Jamaica for Sale"?

2009-03-22T11:38:00.003-04:00

"...the residents of Jamaica, are lectured endlessly about the economic benefits of tourism. However, in my experience, the new economic truth of the all-inclusive mega-hotels is not so rosy... The tourism employment promised has turned out to be at the lowest skill level, lowest pay scale, and without recourse to a union the workers are simply used. Most have no opportunity to grow in the organisation. The money generated does not stay in Jamaica." (from Jamaica for Sale blog)

Jamaica for Sale, a documentary about tourism & unsustainable development, takes a sharp look at the environmental, economic, and social impacts of tourism such as: degraded water quality and shoreline habitats, depleted marine species, poorly regulated large-scale development that relies on low-wage, unskilled local labor, and uncontrolled development of an industry that leads to inflation in land and housing prices, and consumes large amounts of local natural resources.

The film highlights various stakeholders' experiences, presenting the views of workers who labor for low wages in the tourist industry; small hoteliers and providers of tourism services concerned about the future of the industry; fishermen affected by the increasing development of the coast; citizens alarmed at their exclusion from the beaches and decision making processes that allow for development in their communities; and environmentalists fighting to have the value of the Jamaica’s natural resources recognized.

How to Help:

Watch sample clips at Jamaica for Sale, and learn how to get involved. You can help by donating to Jamaica Environment Trust, organizing a showing and spreading the word to help raise awareness of the need for change in the tourism industry.