Ecoclub Member Blogs

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ‘ecotourism’ as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education”. While there are plenty of tourism businesses and destinations worldwide that devoted themselves to both ecotourism principles and eco-friendly activities, Werfenweng is a unique destination as it specialises on the first two words of the TIES’s definition – the responsible travel.The village is located 50km south from Salzburg and it lies right at the foothills of the Tennengebirge mountain region at an altitude of 900 meters above sea level. Thanks to its position, the nature is unspoilt, the air is fresh and both locals and wildlife enjoy good health. No wonder this region is highly attractive for tourists all year round. But how to manage the ever-increasing tourist flow without jeopardising the precious environment? The key, as it turns out, lies in...

BIOFACH - The World's Leading Trade Fair for Organic Food, Nuremberg 12-15 February 2020.This is a great example to consider that community-based sustainable tourism can play a major role in collaboration. Connecting these two industries is key, as we @Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries have done for over 20 years.Pristine environments can also be protected by organic farming communities nearby. Eco-Tourists will appreciate that while enjoying real, safe food and waterways.https://www.biofach.de/en/news/press-releases/congress-organic-delivers-afbj2txytj_pireport     

In December 2002 I headed into the Bolivian Yungas to visit the remote mountain town of Chulumani. One morning I sat drinking coffee looking out over the forested mountains, listening to Strauss and thinking...what if ????Six months later my trip was over and I returned to work in England. 'What if...' remained with me, though as routine and everyday life took over it got pushed further and further to the back of my mind.In December 2017 we changed 'What if...' to 'Oh my God we're doing this!' We bought a disused pupunha plantation in the Brasilian Atlantic Rainforest and set about building our Pousada. Living the Dream isn't easy; very long days, few days off, battling the elements, the forest and wildlife whilst coming to terms with a different culture and language all have presented huge challenges over the last 16 months. However last Sunday I sat in the sun, drinking...

With each passing year, the concern for people and the planet is getting stronger more than anything else. So much so that the concern has taken over our news feeds, social media posts, or even our daily conversations. It is surely an elephant in the room that we can’t ignore anymore. Rapid changes in the environment, people’s lives, negative effects of consumerism, everything suggests us to make the right choices. Not just right enough to avoid negative effects, but making sure that right actions are taken for positive impact. When it comes to making travel choices, the scope to create positive impact widens. Just how sustainability discussions are becoming mainstream, taking actions towards making positive impacts would soon become a practice. Make sure you are updated to make right as well as very unique travel choices in 2020.Here is a list of travel experiences that will help you create a positive...

This project is about launching an awareness campaign throughout the whole state of Goa in India about plastic pollution, responsible tourism, protection of the marine environment and of the marine wildlife in GoaDuring a minimal period of 6 months, we will do this campaign for locals: in schools, universities, coastal establishments (hotels, restaurants, shacks), tourist operators, state agents (tourism department, environment department, coast guards) and also for tourists: during events (setting up beach clean-up days, eco-responsible parties), in hotels.Why this project & why Goa?Goa is India’s most polluted coastal destination.Tourists come in large numbers every year to enjoy the beach, parties and alcohol without necessarily caring about the environment.Disposable plastic is part of the everyday life of locals and tourists.Abnormally high numbers of endangered dolphins and turtles are stranded on Goa’s beaches, certainly in relation to human activities.The locals, especially children, do not have access to awareness about the marine environment,...

Leh-Ladakh is the Himalayan region in the extreme north of India, an area blessed with tremendously beautiful landscapes and clear sky. Seeing the Milky Way with naked eyes is not a big deal here. But in the Spring of 2019, things came together to turn this into a unique attraction of the tourism industry. A lot has been said and written about things to do in Ladakh. Most of them, however, promote only a few places. The reasons behind are the rough terrain, inaccessibility of the locations and lesser information. The promoted list is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of jewels hidden in the cold desert. One such destination is called Maan; the first Astro-village of India. The village is home to a state-of-the-art telescope set up by Global Himalayan Expedition. The villagers conduct a stargazing session every night to promote astronomy in the region. You can watch...

Last summer, I came across a new surreal place in the middle of Algarve, south of Portugal: FridayHappiness in Tojeiro. Located near a small village approximately 300km down south from Lisbon. This charming campsite with a beautiful view in between the mountains, built from recycled and local materials is an association promoting agriculture, art, and consciousness.A community of people coming from the five corners of the earth are living and staying on this very well-organized campsite, with the objectives and mission to live fully self-sustain. Many volunteers come and stay for a minimum of 3 months up to several years, for some of them.What began initially as a gathering of some friends a Friday night around a slice of pizza and some music, became an official venue called “Pizza Night Algarve” where children and adults are welcome on the campsite and offered pizza-all-you-can eat and lasagna for 10euros p/p (and free...

Greetings,Video highlighting the Agroecology Europe Forum, Agroecology Europe Youth Network, Agroecology Greece.It was a great pleasure to participate in this forum and to meet so many people dedicated to cultivating our safe food sources, protecting communities from toxic chemical agriculture, and working hard to sustain resilient communities.My presentation at Workshop 6: Scaling Out, entitled "Collaborating with Sustainable Community-Based Tourism Initiatives." Discussion on proven initiatives supporting Agroecology through community-based tourism. Also, ways to expand and/or initiate more programs and create more global awareness of the necessity for Agroecology.For those who have participated in Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries seminars/study tours, you will recognize some of the organic farmers and speakers at this forum, who are also teachers in the CCS Network.Agroecology Europe Forum Information 

Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats) is annually receiving more than 60.000 national and international visitors, interested in discovering its beauty.A surprising and challenging salt desert, together with a past of mining and hunting of the local communities, makes it nowadays one of the most visited attractions of Bolivia, and since 2016, the icon of Bolivian Vice Ministry of Tourism’ country promotion. Nevertheless, this wonderful destination is still managed through a model that leaves few resources to local communities; everyday, tour groups come from Chile and other Bolivian destinations, drive through the salt packed with visitors, take funny pictures into the desert, and go back to continue their tour in Bolivia. Under this model, no benefit is left to local communities, who mainly live on the poverty line and with many economic vulnerabilities.In order to revert this situation, and to seize the opportunity of tourism, since 2015, local families from four...

Ecotourism in the Cape Winelands of South Africa, in particular, is booming as an increasing number of visitors to the Western Cape Province want to explore the multitude of eco-friendly activities in the area. Apart from indulging in the freshest organic produce imaginable at a local farmers market or embarking on a full-moon hike through a lush green valley, visitors can also enjoy some of the best sustainable wines in the entire world.  Although you do not have to be a wine-lover in order to enjoy a day at one of the superb wineries in the region, enjoying a good glass of sustainable wine will definitely add an element of merriment to your very beneficial eco-tourism excursion.  Sustainable wines are skyrocketing in popularitySustainable wines have been all the rage for some time and, thankfully there is no shortage of superb offerings in the Western Cape. These wine farms are not only...