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The ECOCLUB Team wishes you a Happy &
Eco New Year 2009!
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a year with less violence, irrationality, inequality, intolerance,
ignorance, greed, pollution & waste, |
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with more meaningful & pleasant eco journeys that support
communities & promote understanding |
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ECOCLUB Members & Friends offer new year
messages on Tourism & the Environment in 2009:
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(offered on the occasion of the upcoming
100th issue of ECOCLUB e-Magazine, displayed in the order received) |
"As the year 2008 comes to a close, there
are indeed many dark clouds overhead regarding the state of the
world economy, the environment (including climate change),
tourism, etc. Perhaps it is still too early to notice any
noticeable decline in ecotourism visitation around the world.
What I have noticed, however, is that in many countries
(especially Latin America, including my own Mexico) adventure
tourism and “extreme sports” activities seem to be gaining the
lead over true ecotourism. Unfortunately many of the former modes
of practicing tourism are not very sustainable and frequently
their practice does not do much to enhance the appreciation of the
beauties of nature. What is worse, many of these unsustainable
activities are being described as ”ecotourism” activities in many
countries and it is a pity that many people believe that to truly
enjoy the outdoors one must rely on excessive gadgets and
contraptions: zip-lines or zip wires, “gotcha”, rappel gear,
jet-skis, expensive mountain bikes, etc. In my experience, to
really be in communion with nature you hardly need anything more
than good hiking boots, keeping your eyes and ears open
(binoculars are a big help, of course, for wildlife viewing,
especially birding) and an open spirit of awe and admiration upon
beholding the natural glories of our planet…. A Merry Christmas
and a great 2009 to everybody!"
Arq.
Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, Director General
PICE , Mexico |
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"Tourism is an important economic engine
for the United States and beyond, so informed and sustainable
tourism policies should become a national priority globally.
Policies should be established to handle tourism-related issues
effectively, including having the necessary support staff that are
intimately familiar with how best to utilize sustainability as a
means to enhance the positive economic, socio-cultural and
environmental impacts of tourism. International visitors provide
an important source of revenue for many economies around the
world. In the U.S., for example, the Travel Promotion Act should
be passed in order to better leverage the US’ many cultural and
natural resources to the appropriate markets through the creation
of the Corporation of Travel Promotion. Provide economic
incentives and tax credits to the private sector that help to
offset any upfront costs and incentivize the adoption of
sustainable business practices. Renewable energy and energy
efficiency are key elements in our transformation from a high
carbon, oil dependent economy to a sustainable low carbon economy.
Investment in mass transportation infrastructure should also be a
priority since reliable and affordable mass transit options enable
larger and more diverse populations to travel wider distances"
Brian T. Mullis, President,
Sustainable Travel International , United States |
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"Many people around the world are working
hard to protect their cultural and natural heritage and offering
excellent alternatives to generic tourism that destroys their
communities. They are providing crucial services to society and
deserve our greatest respect. Many travellers think their world
should follow them wherever they go – chlorine, jet skis,
unlimited water and electricity. Some travellers think that
residents should be their servants and free entertainment. If
communities could ban anyone that contributes to their destruction
(including their government), tourism would nearly grind to a
halt. To sustain our world is to respect it and be the solution."
Nikki Rose, Founder & Director,
Crete's Culinary
Sanctuaries , Greece |
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"We are experiencing a remarkable phase of
tourism development at a time when the environmental challenges
requires urgent attention and sustainability is in the top of
development agendas. One billion tourists will travel around the
world by the end of this decade. They will demand enormous
quantities of energy, water, and natural resources to support
their holidays. Sustainability in the tourism is associated with
lower costs and more benefits since it is about a better
management of resources. For this reason sustainable tourism
should not be approached as a small niche market but as a
mainstream option for successful tourism development."
Dr Stefanos Fotiou, Tourism Programme
Coordinator, United
Nations Environment Programme |
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"With the Carbon Consultancy I am
launching www.flysmart.org and a campaign to encourage people to
fly les, if they fly then to fly more efficiently and to assuage
their guilt by giving to carbon philanthropy rather than by buying
a permit to pollute from an off-setting company. Other priorities
for 2009 are to establish a transparent auditing system for
Responsible Tourism; to encourage people to blow the whistle on
irresponsible tourism (www.irresponsibletourism.info) and to work
with local governments to enhance their ability to manage tourism
in destinations, in order tor realise the ambition of "making
better places for people to live in, better places for people to
visit."
Professor Harold Goodwin,
International Centre for
Responsible Tourism, Leeds Metropolitan University, United
Kingdom |
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"In my new book, Reinventure, I discuss
how travel adventure can change your life. With unprecedented
economic, social and political turmoil facing us in 2009 a new
vision of how travel can reinvent communities is needed. Despite
lower incomes and employment uncertainty, I believe tourism will
persevere. Government leaders should embrace tourism as a
legitimate economic stimulus and support creative, grass-root
initiatives that maximize community benefits. Politicians and
banks have had their turn at leading change and the results have
been less than stellar. Perhaps, in the New Year the voices of
environmentalists and artists will be heard!"
Carol Patterson, Principal,
Kalahari Management,
Canada |
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"What would it take to show that change is truly part of the new
tourism landscape? My take is - we need to see a whole new
generation of professional endeavour. Tourism 2.0 - to take a
page from author Thomas Friedman's books. Back in the “day,” we
were pleased to celebrate the small number of companies that were
achieving change. Now “green” tourism has become a norm. But
methods to deliver “green” are far from systematized.
Benchmarking the environmental and social impacts of tourism
corporations worldwide, especially carbon impacts, are a critical
starting point. Let the measurements begin!"
Megan
Epler Wood, Principal,
EplerWood International , Founder, The International
Ecotourism Society (TIES) |
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"Tourism and Environment 2008: Australia.
Climate change is now on the industry's agenda but is overshadowed
by financial and forex issues. Adaptation options are not yet
being considered at the scale of individual destinations, except
ski resorts. State government budgets for some parks agencies
have been cut, especially in NSW, and tourism lobbyists are using
the opportunity to try to obtain development rights in
conservation areas. There is a growing interest in connectivity
conservation involving private lands, but the focus as yet is more
on publicly-funded stewardship schemes than on tourism
opportunities."
Professor Ralph
Buckley, Director,
International Center for Ecotourism Research, Griffith
University, Australia |
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"What is the future of ecotourism industry and environmental
degradation in Malaysia? Well, it has certainly not looked too
well for this naturally beautiful tropical rainforest country
towards the end of this year. With intense rain (more than 250mm),
massive landslides have been occurring in Malaysia with the worst
being the recent Bukit Antrabangsa, a highland residential area in
the outskirt of Kuala Lumpur that had left 4 dead. 'Enough is
enough, stop the hillside projects', said the Prime Minister of
Malaysia. But sadly calls for controlled development has fallen
deaf among many hillside developers. Then comes the headline news,
Tasik Chini, the second largest lake in the country, was dying “a
slow and unnatural death”. The once famed lake, an ecotourism
destination is totally polluted and not accessible to tourist. Yet
again, the enforcement to tackle this fragile environment has
failed miserably. Malaysia has to wake up and take the
environmental issues more seriously before the goose that is
laying the golden eggs is gone for good."
Dr.
Vikneswaran Nair,
Taylor’s University College, Malaysia |
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"Under the Asean Sky: The blue Asean Sky will be most likely be
covered in red in 2009 and beyond. With the financial and economic
challenges in the rest of the world, I foresee the huge increase
in air traffic in Asean. The recent air liberalisation of
KL-Singapore sector, the continuing introduction of new routes by
Air Asia around Asean countries with its purchase of 175 new
aircrafts to be delivered up to 2013, the addition of new LCCC,
Tiger Air and Jetstar into the region will help drive traffic up
and price down on some of the routes which has been traditionally
protected and milked exclusively by national carriers. The
multilateral air agreements once ratified by all ten Asean
transport ministers in 2009 will further create more competition
and grow the tourism arrivals to and within the Asean sky
providing a much needed economic stimulus for a trying economic
times. Finally, more people can afford to fly on short and medium
haul even as the rest of the world is in recession come 2009. Not
all is bleak yet... Kota Kinabalu where I am based will see a boom
in tourism arrival in 2009 once the new airport is completed. We
will see a shortage of rooms and it will catch some of us by
surprise as more people travel short haul."
Albert Teo,
Managing Director, Borneo
Eco Tours, Malaysia |
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"Dear Friends of ECOCLUB. Let me start and end with words, which are
not mine: I have a dream. I have the dream, that the nations,
races, cultures, religions, any individual will be willing and
able to learn from each other, to respect the differences, and to
understand the values of our colourful world, to realize the
common within the differences, to enable themselves to look and to
feel behind of the horizon. I have the dream, the leaders of this
wonderful planet will give more attention to the tourism industry
being the world largest employer and having an enormous chance
and responsibility for a global social, economical and ecological
'change' (an important word in 2008) in order to enable the
tourism stakeholders to take over their responsibility for real
active interhuman intercultural understanding and peace from
heart. Money is good and important, but for tomorrow we need
responsible, sustainable, holistic travel and tourism which is to
create a common long term future. Listening to the economic and
financial managers we should follow the church reformer Martin Luthers
saying "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces,
I would still plant my apple tree." Does the tourism industry have
a chance to change? Yes, we can!"
Burkhard Herbote,
Editor,
WorldTourismDirectory.com , Germany |
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“Ever since I work for PAN Parks Foundation, I consider 2009 as
probably the most important year. The main challenge will be to
take forward wilderness conservation in Europe. There is a draft
report on wilderness areas which will be discussed and hopefully
approved by the plenary of the European Parliament on February.
There will be the first ever European wide conference on Wild and
Nearly Wild Land in Prague on May. The challenge for us in these
processes will be to ensure that tourism is considered as a
potential ally for wilderness conservation!”
Zoltan Kun,
Director, Pan Parks Foundation,
Hungary
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"2009 and 2010 are going to be challenging
years for tourism. The economic climate is going to make people
give serious thought to their travel plans. They may find some
very good deals on offer, but also many deterrents. For the
sustainable tourism sector in South America, the challenge will be
to build on the many positive initiatives, especially in community
tourism, and to find innovative ways to incorporate sustainability
into established markets. For the sector to continue flourishing,
though, responsible means will have to be found to bring tourists
long-distance to those communities and projects that want to share
their lifestyle and environment."
Ben Box, Editor, South American Handbook, Peru Handbook,
Footprint Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador,
Footprint Books
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"With leadership changes in Australia and
the United States - the two countries that held out on signing
onto the Kyoto Protocol - the stage is set in 2009 for major
advances in addressing climate change. What's missing, however,
are practical solutions and a jargon-free language. International
conferences are usually conducted in terms that only policy
specialists can understand. If we want a global constituency in
favor of low carbon lifestyles, we need to show how communities
and countries are making practical advances. While some would
argue that the eco-minded travelers should simply stay at home, I
would argue that those in the Ecoclub should simply travel more
slowly, choosing the greenest options and documenting what they
find. If we're going to leave footprints, we might as well leave
positive footprints that others can follow."
Ron Mader, Founder of
Planeta.com, host of the
Tourism and Climate Change E-Conference |
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Terrorists Failed in Mumbai. Perhaps the acts by sophisticated
terrorist cells on tourism targets is not as good of strategy as
they thought. "Mumbai" became a recognized destination brand name
worldwide overnight. To anyone saying they are going to India
these days, the first question they hear is "Are you going to
Mumbai?" The long term challenge to change name from “Bombay” has
been accomplished. Mumbai, and all its positive attributes, has
firmly been placed on the world map. The Trident-Oberoi Hotel is
being flooded with bookings for rooms and tables at its famed
restaurants Opium Den, Frangipani and India Jones, in time for the
grand reopening on December 21. The global awareness of the entire
Oberoi Group has been escalated. The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower is
now a must-visit in minds of travelers around the world. Many
more travelers are now aware of the 75 Taj Hotels, Resorts, and
Palaces in 12 countries. Its corporate-wide project for energy
conservation and environmental management will get increased
recognition. Sadly lives were lost, our guests and our peers, but
the terrorist failed in their objective to use tourism targets.
Our industry is resilient.
Edward L. Beauchamp,
Founder, World
Tourism Foundation , United States
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"2009 will be interesting year to see how a major financial crisis
will impact sustainability concerns. In my view, both tight
budgets and carbon conscience will mean that consumers will opt
for looking for travel experiences closer to home. Sustainable
practices that deliver cost reduction AND enhance the travel
experience will be key and just “greenwashing” will not appeal. In
terms of innovation, I see a bright future for location based
media services for ecotourism. A Green Christmas and Fasten Your
Seatbelts for a Slow Travel Year"
Ariane Janer,
Instituto EcoBrasil,
Brazil
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"Key issues from the 1990s still need to
be addressed, including broadening and adopting sustainable
tourism practices and strategies. Key environmental issues
include air pollution, climate change, natural areas conservation,
species reduction, negative consequences of human activities, and
the lack of understanding of environmental services. Canada’s
large land mass and coastline make it susceptible to climate
change, particularly in the Arctic – where wildlife, landscapes,
and aboriginal land-based economies are impacted. Southern Canada
has ongoing suburban sprawl and loss of natural areas negatively
impacting biodiversity. The approach to environmental issues is
also a problem, with much focus on operational level piecemeal
activities, vs. understanding ecosystem services, or stressing
growth vs. development and ecosystem wellbeing. However, the
current global economic crisis is likely to maintain the focus on
economic rather than environmental perspectives in 2009."
Pam Wight, Principal,
Pam Wight
& Associates, Canada
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"Estonia has enjoyed almost an automatic
economic growth last 15 years. Today's crisis and changes have a
good side, besides the bad ones - it is that we all have to think
more. Think about what we do, and why and how? There is a clear
need to communicate more often and openly, both inside ecotourism
sector and across the sectors. We are depending on the shared
resources, and we share a (non-existing) image as a destination.
We have find the ways to work together in order to achieve
success. Ecotourism in real life can not be better than the joint
outcome of our individual efforts."
Aivar Ruukel, Soomaa.com
& Estonian Ecotourism Society, Estonia |
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"Often, the money that supports our
efforts comes from an economic system that depends on
overconsumption of resources - one that is at the root of
unsustainable development. So, how can we contribute to
fundamental change through sustainable tourism? Empowering people
to see the “big picture” is a great way to start. When people are
on vacation, their minds are open, and they are willing to rethink
how they live their daily lives. If we can serve as a bridge to a
holistic perspective outside the dominant paradigm, then
sustainable tourism has a vital role to play in creating a better
future. The more you know, the less you need!"
Bodhi Garrett, Founder and Consultant,
Andaman Discoveries,
Thailand |
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"Estonia experienced the highest economic
standards ever in 2007. The year 2008 was an interesting contrast
as we experienced recession like the rest of the world. In
ecotourism we could mainly feel it through the decrease of clients
at the domestic market. Incoming ecotourism was rather growing. In
the next year our domestic market will probably continue to fall
and foreign market will grow. Estonia is still a new and growing
destination for many ecotourists, and for example next year more
cruise ship will visit Estonia. Harsh times will push
entrepreneurs to improve product development and price quality
relations will be probably better for tourists."
Mart Reimann, Proprietor,
Reimann Retked, Estonia |
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"The challenge for community-based tourism has now moved beyond
assisting community members to develop their own sustainable
tourism programs. Now, we must assist communities to access
manageable numbers of responsible travelers to visit and support
these projects. Key tasks in 2009 and beyond will be to educate
and stimulate demand among responsible travelers; and to identify
and work together with genuine responsible tour partners to
develop relationships which are responsive to the needs of both
community members and the tour industry. This will require
balancing the time and attention to detail which is required in
order to facilitate meaningful local participation from product to
market, with high levels of quality and efficiency required by
tour operators."
Peter Richards & Potjana Suansri,
Community
Based Tourism Institute (CBT-I), Thailand |
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"In Asia the global economic meltdown is referred to as the
"global financial tsunami", and while the 2004 tsunami resulted in
a horrifying number of casualties it also swept away many
unsustainable and environmentally damaging tourism developments
along the affected coastlines. Out of catastrophe came new
challenges and new opportunities for environmentally better
coastal ecotourism development (regrettably not always achieved).
Nevertheless in a similar way the current financial tsunami offers
both immense challenges but also opportunities for a more
enlightened approach to implementing the basic principles of
ecotourism since sustainability has, paradoxically, been
emphasized by the total unsustainability of so many practices and
developments. Despite the stringencies facing economies all around
the world, in the context of assertions by the European Community
that global warming and climate change issues must continue to be
tackled so ecotourism could constitute a flagship role model for
the tourism industry to contribute to a better world in 2009."
Professor Trevor Sofield,
University of Tasmania,
Australia
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"As 2008 comes to a close, we see environmental and social issues
reaching very challenging heights. There is indeed a connection
to sustainable health and the environment, therefore our continued
advocacy to protect the planet is more important than ever.
Certainly human induced effects on the planet are a key issue
which impacts the health and well-being of all--tourism can be a
tool for conservation of natural resources and provide the
economic benefits to alleviate poverty and support education. The
economic woes facing our nation and many others impact not only
tourism but the way in which priorities are established. A key
issue facing the globe is to protect the natural capital that
supports and sustains life, livelihoods and the health of the
planet."
Professor Kelly Bricker, Director,
The International Ecotourism
Society (TIES) |
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"Ecotourism in Hindu Kush in the Post-Lowari
Tunnel Scenario: Chitral contains the colorful cultures of the
peaceful, hospitable and friendly Kalash and Khow communities
under the shade the mighty peaks of the Hindu Kush with
attractions for tourists. As Lowari tunnel [8.7 km] opens, it
provides all-weather access with impacts for tourism. But how the
indigenous communities, in the given condition, will benefit from
it is still a question mark. There are two opinions about the
tourism growth in the post-tunnel scenario. Some believe the all
weather road will boost tourism in the region and tourists from
both north and south will be diverted to the Chitral valley
resulting in more tourism related businesses and benefits. Others,
however, say tourism will come but more or less will be occupied
by non-local moneyed-class that will marginalize the indigenous
communities—both Kalah and Khow. Further, the natural forest in
the south will disappear by the powerful timber mafia with
disaster impacts for natural biodiversity and environment. Land
price will increase 10 times higher as what it is at present.
Population will grow haphazardly and so will do related social and
environmental problems. Maintenance of law and order will be all
the more difficult. It is high time that the indigenous
communities should prepare a viable strategy to augment tourism
benefits and minimize its negatives impacts."
Shams Uddin,
Manager, Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism, Pakistan |
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"I think the issues for tourism and the environment is going to be
the extent to which sustainability can demonstrate itself to be an
important component of tourism in times of economic difficulty.
Will the tourism industry grab the excuse of the recession to
relegate sustainability down the list of priorities, or will the
industry understand that we need to keep moving forward on
sustainability otherwise there will be no tourism resources to
sell whatever the economic circumstances."
Dr Graham
Miller, Senior Lecturer in Management,
University of
Surrey, United Kingdom |
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New Business Members:
 Balmaadi
Estate (Tamil Nadu, India)
Visit our
award-winning organic coffee plantation high-up in the
Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu in India, near Ooty. We grow
quality Arabica coffee, using ancient Vedic and bio-dynamic
methods at an elevation of 4-6000 ft asl with stringent
standards of excellence as set by Coffeelab, Bangalore and
IMO, Switzerland. The bushes grow under the natural shade of
native trees. Quietude reigns - as a wildlife sanctuary we
limit our activities – but it may be broken by the cry of
the deer escaping the panther or the rumblings of the
elephants as they head towards the river and the banana
grove.
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 Go
Philanthropic (NY, United States)
Based in Rochester NY, Go Philanthropic embraces the
relationship between Travel Philanthropy and Sustainable
Travel, coupling vacations with support for social and
conservation projects worldwide. Explore each country with a
private guide, car and driver. Indulge in activities unique
to your interests…then go beyond. During your travel, spend
an afternoon donating books or a water well, fund a school,
help orphanages, or offer a micro-loan...all in person. Our
partners adhere to sound sustainable tourism practices,
energy and environmental conservation best practices. Every
trip includes a contribution to offset the pollution created
by your travel. Currently, we offer programs in Costa Rica,
Venezuela, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam & India.
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Briar Rose Bed
& Breakfast (CO, United States)
An
ecologically-minded, old inn in downtown Boulder, run by
Jessica Kimes & Gary Hardin, a Zen Monk. Ten guest rooms
each with individual character. Organic cotton sheets &
natural bath products. Full Organic & vegetarian breakfasts,
homemade cookies & unlimited tea service, high-speed
wireless & business centre. Gardens with fountain and old
trees, living-room with wood-burning fireplace, meditation
room with beautiful cherry floor. Conveniently situated
close to restaurants, transportation, Pearl street and the
University of Colorado. Wonderful mountain trails within a
couple miles, with stunning panoramic views of the
Continental Divide and the beautiful Boulder Creek Path a
couple hundred yards away.
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 Active
Blogs:
International Vagabond /
Nikki Rose's Blog /
Director's Cut /
Carol
Patterson's Blog
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sponsored by:
Canyon Travel
(Mexico),
La Selva Jungle Lodge
(Ecuador),
Eco Holidays Malta
(Malta),
St-Géry Historic Estate
(France)
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