Dominica, 6 May 2009

Addressing the EcoFest Conference in the Caribbean island of Dominica, (Web: http://www.rosalieforest/ecofest.php ) through a virtual presentation, Antonis Petropoulos, the director of ECOCLUB, argued in favour of Social Ecotourism, a tourism decided at the community level, with minimum bureaucracy, and maximum but voluntary participation of all citizens. According to Petropoulos, the time has come for "Tourism to finally become democratic, beneficial & controlled by – or at least accountable to - local communities". The two latest crises, the "financial flu and the swine flu" could deliver big blows to destinations that have opted for a mega-resort, golf and condo hotel monoculture, and could also have positive impacts in revealing the true nature of global Tourism, and its neoliberal & neocolonial attributes.

Petropoulos was optimistic that small island nations like Dominica, that have so far escaped the trap of mass-produced corporately controlled tourism, will opt for Social Ecotourism as a progressive policy at the national level and avoid the costly mistakes of others, rather than try to outsmart other destinations by diverting scarce funds to subsidise powerful tour operators.

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EcoFest Information: http://www.rosalieforest/ecofest.php