Punta Gorda, Belize - 10 February 2010
Tumul K’in Center of Learning in Blue Creek Village will again be hosting the annual Maya Day celebrations with an exciting variety of competitions, games and activities spanning more than a month. Last year’s events were a great success and this year promises to be even better.
There will also be a Maya dance on February 27th from 6pm to midnight. Harp and marimba artists from across Toledo will be featured, including The Tumul K’in Boys. Although not confirmed, it is anticipated this will take place at the Sports Complex in PG. There is a $10 entrance.
A football marathon is planned for February 28th at Julian Cho Technical High School. Matches kick off at 10am. Please come and support these fund raising activities. On March 16th, the famous Torch Run begins at Lubaantun Mayan site with an incense-filled spiritual ceremony giving praise for life, earth and well being.
This event should commence around 4:30pm at the site. Runners will then carry the torch through San Miguel, Silver Creek, Big Falls, Dump, Mafridi and ending at Tumul K’in in Blue Creek. The torch signifies the light of the world.
The thrilling Fire Ball Game takes place on March 16th and 28th at the end of each day’s activities. In this game, young men compete with hockey stick-like clubs attempting to score goals with a ball blazing in flame. Be ready to move if the flaming ball flies in your direction!
Central Park in PG will be the venue for a Harp & Marimba Competition on March 20th. The best district musicians will be here so don’t miss this musical extravaganza. The top three bands will then compete on March 28th at Tumul K’in for the crown.
The Chaj Chay Ball Game continues to be a highlight of the annual Maya Day celebrations. This is a game of speed, strength, endurance and accuracy which has been played since ancient times. The reenactment of this ancient sport is truly exciting. The ball game will once again take place at the Sports Complex in PG.
Entrance is $5 per adult and $3 per child. And last but not least, Maya Day itself on March 28th — a full day of cultural games, competitions, music, food & drink at Tumul K’in Center of Learning in Blue Creek Village.
For more details:
Contact Rob Hirons - Proprietor, The Lodge at Big Falls
Email: rob [at] thelodgeatbigfalls [dot] com
Web: http://www.thelodgeatbigfalls.com
Eco Announcements
Interesting News Releases Across the Tourism & Environment Sectors
Athens, Greece - 1 March 2010 (updated 13 April 2010)
The ECOCLUB.com Awards 2010 are now open, under the theme “Ecosocial Justice Through Tourism”. The Awards are open to all active ECOCLUB.com Members around the world who are invited to consult with their local community and submit tourism-related projects that can help rectify ecological and social injustices at the community level.
The total grant this year amounts to Euros 6,000 to be equally shared by three winners upon successful completion of their projects. Each project must be officially undertaken by a legal entity (including the self-employed) that is able to issue an official invoice to us, for legal & transparency reasons.
Project Type: ECOCLUB.com seek new, independent, realistic, implementable projects which provide tangible, non-abstract, results, and which relate to this year’s theme, "Ecosocial Justice through Tourism". Projects should have a strong social element, be tangible, small-scale and should be focused on the local community, improving its life and meeting urgent needs in a direct manner.
The ultimate deadline to submit a project is June 25, 2010 however interested Members are advised to apply as soon as possible.
For More Details:
Please download full terms and application form: .doc format OR .pdf format
Buttala, Sri Lanka, 3 January 2009
Sri Lankan Tree Tops Jungle Lodge (Web: http://www.treetopsjunglelodge.com) has recently been honoured with the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award 2008 at an award ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tree Tops is a basic mud- and tree-hut ecolodge entirely run and managed by staff recruited in a remote community where hunter-gathering is the traditional lifestyle combined with slash-burn farming. None of the staff team ever completed the school up to o-level. Situated in lowland Uva, 10 km from Buttala, the lodge is located in dryzone Weliara bush jungle in Southeastern Sri Lanka, a wilderness and slash and burn cultivation area connected to Yala National Park.
The award winners were selected after six months of short-listing the finalists and as a unique feature for awards, the final eight properties were inspected by Wild Asia representatives. This year Wild Asia introduced a new set of criteria which included: 1) Sense of place — whether tourists understand their destinations better through operators' efforts. 2) Sustainability — whether these efforts are long-term. 3) Involvement of guests — do the operators involve their guests in their practices? 4) Internalization — how much is sustainability part of the day-to-day operations?
The 'Budget Accommodation' Award, one of four award categories was given to Tree Tops Jungle Lodge.
Dr. Reza Azmi, Director and Founder, Wild Asia, commented: "What's great about the Awards is we always find a gem - a property that challenges us in our evolving views of what makes a 'sustainable' business. I had a preconceived idea of Sri Lanka's Tree Tops Jungle Lodge as yet another wildlife lodge but what we discovered was how local everything was. From the design of the mud huts to the entire wildlife experience. Despite being a small operation, the lodge serves as important business, educational and conservation catalysts for the area".
"The Wild Asia Award is an incredible encouragement for me and my team as well as attracting well deserved international attention to Sri Lankan ecotourism" - Lars Sorensen said, Chief, Tree Tops Jungle Lodge.
Explaining what makes Tree Tops special, Lars Sorensen adds: "The jungle lodge vision developed from 2001 was quite a daring combination of adventure, experience and minimal facilities. However we went our own ways and have proven to be a world class Sri Lankan ecotourism product in terms of real and authentic experience. Our concept is tailor made for the particular area and aims to preserve local culture, nature and wildlife - call it 'living in the wilderness with local people'. The concept puts weight on the human resource part and environmental conservation rather than the actual physical hotel. Organization and service make the magic more than conventional comfort". This is all depending on the preservation of the surrounding nature because living amidst jungle, birds, spotting leopard paw marks and observing an occasional wild elephant is the core attraction for visitors".
Initiated in 2006 by Malaysia-based conservation group Wild Asia (www.wildasia.net), the Awards showcase exemplary Asian ecotourism ventures that are committed to sustainable practices. This year's Awards attracted a diverse group of tourism operators from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Laos, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India. Wild Asia organized various learning seminars attended by pioneers of Asian nature conservation and leaders in ecotourism from the finest Asian eco-chic resorts to basic community based accommodation places.
For contacting Lars Sorensen and information about Tree Tops Jungle Lodge: http://www.treetopsjunglelodge.com
Sri Lankan Tree Tops Jungle Lodge (Web: http://www.treetopsjunglelodge.com) has recently been honoured with the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award 2008 at an award ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tree Tops is a basic mud- and tree-hut ecolodge entirely run and managed by staff recruited in a remote community where hunter-gathering is the traditional lifestyle combined with slash-burn farming. None of the staff team ever completed the school up to o-level. Situated in lowland Uva, 10 km from Buttala, the lodge is located in dryzone Weliara bush jungle in Southeastern Sri Lanka, a wilderness and slash and burn cultivation area connected to Yala National Park.
The award winners were selected after six months of short-listing the finalists and as a unique feature for awards, the final eight properties were inspected by Wild Asia representatives. This year Wild Asia introduced a new set of criteria which included: 1) Sense of place — whether tourists understand their destinations better through operators' efforts. 2) Sustainability — whether these efforts are long-term. 3) Involvement of guests — do the operators involve their guests in their practices? 4) Internalization — how much is sustainability part of the day-to-day operations?
The 'Budget Accommodation' Award, one of four award categories was given to Tree Tops Jungle Lodge.
Dr. Reza Azmi, Director and Founder, Wild Asia, commented: "What's great about the Awards is we always find a gem - a property that challenges us in our evolving views of what makes a 'sustainable' business. I had a preconceived idea of Sri Lanka's Tree Tops Jungle Lodge as yet another wildlife lodge but what we discovered was how local everything was. From the design of the mud huts to the entire wildlife experience. Despite being a small operation, the lodge serves as important business, educational and conservation catalysts for the area".
"The Wild Asia Award is an incredible encouragement for me and my team as well as attracting well deserved international attention to Sri Lankan ecotourism" - Lars Sorensen said, Chief, Tree Tops Jungle Lodge.
Explaining what makes Tree Tops special, Lars Sorensen adds: "The jungle lodge vision developed from 2001 was quite a daring combination of adventure, experience and minimal facilities. However we went our own ways and have proven to be a world class Sri Lankan ecotourism product in terms of real and authentic experience. Our concept is tailor made for the particular area and aims to preserve local culture, nature and wildlife - call it 'living in the wilderness with local people'. The concept puts weight on the human resource part and environmental conservation rather than the actual physical hotel. Organization and service make the magic more than conventional comfort". This is all depending on the preservation of the surrounding nature because living amidst jungle, birds, spotting leopard paw marks and observing an occasional wild elephant is the core attraction for visitors".
Initiated in 2006 by Malaysia-based conservation group Wild Asia (www.wildasia.net), the Awards showcase exemplary Asian ecotourism ventures that are committed to sustainable practices. This year's Awards attracted a diverse group of tourism operators from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Laos, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India. Wild Asia organized various learning seminars attended by pioneers of Asian nature conservation and leaders in ecotourism from the finest Asian eco-chic resorts to basic community based accommodation places.
For contacting Lars Sorensen and information about Tree Tops Jungle Lodge: http://www.treetopsjunglelodge.com
Washington DC, 9 January 2009
Over 225 delegates attended the 2008 Travelers’ Philanthropy Conference held in Arusha, Tanzania, making it the largest and most diverse conference ever held on this theme.
The 3-day conference, at which Nobel Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai, founder and leader of Kenya’s Green Belt Movement, gave the opening keynote address, also marked the first time that travelers’ philanthropy had been addressed in Africa.
Travelers’ philanthropy is a relatively new concept, but it is rapidly growing into a worldwide movement and becoming part of the definition of responsible travel. At its core, travelers’ philanthropy is about tourism businesses and travelers ‘giving back’ to tourism destinations by providing financial support, expertise, and material contributions to local projects and community initiatives. Tourism frequently takes place in biodiversity and culturally rich but economically poor regions of the world.
“We are thrilled with the results of the conference. Not only did more delegates attend than we had expected, but the conference is also generating a number of new educational materials that will help to strengthen travelers’ philanthropy initiatives,” says Martha Honey, Co-Director of the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD) that organized the conference and runs the Travelers’ Philanthropy Program. “These materials will help provide, for the first time, the tools to help tourism businesses and host communities initiate and effectively carry out travelers’ philanthropy projects.”
In the wake of the conference, CESD plans to:
* Produce a new handbook (“How to Create a Travelers’ Philanthropy Program”) based on a ‘short course’ given at the conference. This handbook, which is being produced together with the Basecamp Foundation, will be launched in March at the ITB Berlin, the world’s major travel show.
* Create a CD with the conference proceedings, presentations, photos, and other documents, as well as post them online.
* Promote and distribute the first ever documentary on travelers’ philanthropy (“Giving Time, Talent, and Treasure”) which was premiered at the conference.
* Launch a new discussion board and blog for conference participants and others interested in travelers’ philanthropy.
* Expand the Experts Bureau to include more professionals who can work with companies, community organizations, NGOs, and others to develop travelers’ philanthropy projects.
* Develop a list of ‘best practices’ for both tourism businesses and travelers involved in supporting projects in the host communities.
* Incorporate additional companies and their travelers’ philanthropy projects into the Travelers’ Philanthropy website which has the capacity to receive online, tax deductible donations.
Participants to the conference, which was held December 3-5, 2008 at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, came from over 20 countries. Nearly half received full or partial scholarships to attend, thanks to funds provided by the Ford Foundation, USAID, the United Nations Foundation, and the United States Institute for Peace.
“The conference provided an important opportunity for the east African tourism industry and local community-based enterprises to engage with developments related to responsible and sustainable forms of tourism, with roughly half of all participants coming from Kenya and Tanzania,” says Fred Nelson, the lead local organizer for the conference.
The conference included 18 workshops on topics such as serving local development priorities through travelers’ philanthropy; the responsibility and response of the travel industry to climate change; moving travelers’ philanthropy from a charity model to social empowerment and entrepreneurship; and bad practices and best practices for engaging travelers.
In addition, the conference examined several issues critical to Africa, including the failure of many tourism businesses to adequately address the HIV/AIDS pandemic. At the conference, several delegates pledged that their companies would, within the next year, develop HIV/AIDS policies and programs for staff and visitor education, as well as initiate travelers’ philanthropy projects to support HIV/AIDS clinics, orphanages, education and other types of programs in the host communities.
In his keynote address at the conference, Dr. David Western, founder of the Africa Conservation Centre and former director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, described travelers’ philanthropy as an effort to “martial the well intentioned impulses of the traveler” to support needs in the local community. He said it derives from the concept of the Good Samaritan, “the wayfarer who helped even those who he did not know.” He added that “Africa wants trade, not aid,” and “tourism represents the largest transfer of wealth from the North to the South.”
The conference was endorsed and supported by a wide range of sponsors. These include 31 companies, organizations, and development agencies. In addition to CESD, the leading partners in organizing the conference were the Honeyguide Foundation in Tanzania, Basecamp Foundation in Kenya, and the African Safari Lodge Foundation in South Africa.
For more details:
Contact: Whitney Cooper
Phone: 202-347-9203 ext. 414
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.travelersphilanthropyconference.org
Over 225 delegates attended the 2008 Travelers’ Philanthropy Conference held in Arusha, Tanzania, making it the largest and most diverse conference ever held on this theme.
The 3-day conference, at which Nobel Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai, founder and leader of Kenya’s Green Belt Movement, gave the opening keynote address, also marked the first time that travelers’ philanthropy had been addressed in Africa.
Travelers’ philanthropy is a relatively new concept, but it is rapidly growing into a worldwide movement and becoming part of the definition of responsible travel. At its core, travelers’ philanthropy is about tourism businesses and travelers ‘giving back’ to tourism destinations by providing financial support, expertise, and material contributions to local projects and community initiatives. Tourism frequently takes place in biodiversity and culturally rich but economically poor regions of the world.
“We are thrilled with the results of the conference. Not only did more delegates attend than we had expected, but the conference is also generating a number of new educational materials that will help to strengthen travelers’ philanthropy initiatives,” says Martha Honey, Co-Director of the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD) that organized the conference and runs the Travelers’ Philanthropy Program. “These materials will help provide, for the first time, the tools to help tourism businesses and host communities initiate and effectively carry out travelers’ philanthropy projects.”
In the wake of the conference, CESD plans to:
* Produce a new handbook (“How to Create a Travelers’ Philanthropy Program”) based on a ‘short course’ given at the conference. This handbook, which is being produced together with the Basecamp Foundation, will be launched in March at the ITB Berlin, the world’s major travel show.
* Create a CD with the conference proceedings, presentations, photos, and other documents, as well as post them online.
* Promote and distribute the first ever documentary on travelers’ philanthropy (“Giving Time, Talent, and Treasure”) which was premiered at the conference.
* Launch a new discussion board and blog for conference participants and others interested in travelers’ philanthropy.
* Expand the Experts Bureau to include more professionals who can work with companies, community organizations, NGOs, and others to develop travelers’ philanthropy projects.
* Develop a list of ‘best practices’ for both tourism businesses and travelers involved in supporting projects in the host communities.
* Incorporate additional companies and their travelers’ philanthropy projects into the Travelers’ Philanthropy website which has the capacity to receive online, tax deductible donations.
Participants to the conference, which was held December 3-5, 2008 at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, came from over 20 countries. Nearly half received full or partial scholarships to attend, thanks to funds provided by the Ford Foundation, USAID, the United Nations Foundation, and the United States Institute for Peace.
“The conference provided an important opportunity for the east African tourism industry and local community-based enterprises to engage with developments related to responsible and sustainable forms of tourism, with roughly half of all participants coming from Kenya and Tanzania,” says Fred Nelson, the lead local organizer for the conference.
The conference included 18 workshops on topics such as serving local development priorities through travelers’ philanthropy; the responsibility and response of the travel industry to climate change; moving travelers’ philanthropy from a charity model to social empowerment and entrepreneurship; and bad practices and best practices for engaging travelers.
In addition, the conference examined several issues critical to Africa, including the failure of many tourism businesses to adequately address the HIV/AIDS pandemic. At the conference, several delegates pledged that their companies would, within the next year, develop HIV/AIDS policies and programs for staff and visitor education, as well as initiate travelers’ philanthropy projects to support HIV/AIDS clinics, orphanages, education and other types of programs in the host communities.
In his keynote address at the conference, Dr. David Western, founder of the Africa Conservation Centre and former director of the Kenya Wildlife Service, described travelers’ philanthropy as an effort to “martial the well intentioned impulses of the traveler” to support needs in the local community. He said it derives from the concept of the Good Samaritan, “the wayfarer who helped even those who he did not know.” He added that “Africa wants trade, not aid,” and “tourism represents the largest transfer of wealth from the North to the South.”
The conference was endorsed and supported by a wide range of sponsors. These include 31 companies, organizations, and development agencies. In addition to CESD, the leading partners in organizing the conference were the Honeyguide Foundation in Tanzania, Basecamp Foundation in Kenya, and the African Safari Lodge Foundation in South Africa.
For more details:
Contact: Whitney Cooper
Phone: 202-347-9203 ext. 414
Email:
http://www.travelersphilanthropyconference.org
Burlington, VT Jan 06, 2009
EplerWood International is kicking off the new year with a new Blog - A Day in the Life of an Ecotourism Consultant (Web: http://meganeplerwood.blogspot.com ). Follow Megan Epler Wood on her journey to Bangladesh where she will develop an ecotourism strategy for the Teknaf Peninsula on the Bay of Bengal. This far-flung peninsula borders Burma, and is becoming a target for rapid local development. Forest reserves here harbor the threatened Bengal tiger.
Megan is focusing on the process involved in developing a new ecotourism destination - providing her thoughts on every aspect of creating a cultural, natural and sustainable site that serves local people and sustains the environment. Check it out!
We are also proud to release our second essay for TravelMole's VISION on Sustainable Tourism called Tourism Change We Can Believe In. Epler Wood discusses Tourism 2.0 - a new generation of professional endeavor.
There is increasing evidence that sustainable tourism models, including ecotourism, geotourism, voluntourism and responsible tourism are all performing better in the market place than mainstream tourism. But EplerWood International argues that only by more concerted work on benchmarking and sustainably managing mainstream tourism, will there be genuine change in the tourism marketplace.
About EplerWood International
EplerWood International works in partnership with development agencies, private companies, universities, and NGOs worldwide to develop a sustainable tourism economy.
Website: http://www.eplerwood.com
EplerWood International is kicking off the new year with a new Blog - A Day in the Life of an Ecotourism Consultant (Web: http://meganeplerwood.blogspot.com ). Follow Megan Epler Wood on her journey to Bangladesh where she will develop an ecotourism strategy for the Teknaf Peninsula on the Bay of Bengal. This far-flung peninsula borders Burma, and is becoming a target for rapid local development. Forest reserves here harbor the threatened Bengal tiger.
Megan is focusing on the process involved in developing a new ecotourism destination - providing her thoughts on every aspect of creating a cultural, natural and sustainable site that serves local people and sustains the environment. Check it out!
We are also proud to release our second essay for TravelMole's VISION on Sustainable Tourism called Tourism Change We Can Believe In. Epler Wood discusses Tourism 2.0 - a new generation of professional endeavor.
There is increasing evidence that sustainable tourism models, including ecotourism, geotourism, voluntourism and responsible tourism are all performing better in the market place than mainstream tourism. But EplerWood International argues that only by more concerted work on benchmarking and sustainably managing mainstream tourism, will there be genuine change in the tourism marketplace.
About EplerWood International
EplerWood International works in partnership with development agencies, private companies, universities, and NGOs worldwide to develop a sustainable tourism economy.
Website: http://www.eplerwood.com
27 January 2009 - Shalstone, Buckinghamshire - UK
African bush adventure specialists Afreco Tours are offering the opportunity for travellers to work with animals, wildlife, horses and domestic cattle on a community-based project in South Africa.
The new program focuses on conservation and wildlife management in conjunction with the local community and animal husbandry aspects such looking after the elephants, horses and cattle.
The motto is 'Conservation through Education and Interaction' offering student volunteers a holistic view of conservation issues today.
Running the conservancy will require that students participate in activities such as anti-poaching patrols, fence patrols, bush clearing, maintenance of infrastructure, research on wildlife and flora within the reserve and at times game capture and release.
Duration is 14 day, 28-day, 42-day or 56 days. Rates start at approximately £875 per person for the two weeks.
>> For more information
Contact Adrian Faulkner atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone +44(0) 845 812 8222 for a full information pack.
Related Link:
http://www.afrecotours.com/Elephant-Whispe...outh-Africa.asp
African bush adventure specialists Afreco Tours are offering the opportunity for travellers to work with animals, wildlife, horses and domestic cattle on a community-based project in South Africa.
The new program focuses on conservation and wildlife management in conjunction with the local community and animal husbandry aspects such looking after the elephants, horses and cattle.
The motto is 'Conservation through Education and Interaction' offering student volunteers a holistic view of conservation issues today.
Running the conservancy will require that students participate in activities such as anti-poaching patrols, fence patrols, bush clearing, maintenance of infrastructure, research on wildlife and flora within the reserve and at times game capture and release.
Duration is 14 day, 28-day, 42-day or 56 days. Rates start at approximately £875 per person for the two weeks.
>> For more information
Contact Adrian Faulkner at
Related Link:
http://www.afrecotours.com/Elephant-Whispe...outh-Africa.asp
Oaxaca, Mexico - Jan 2009
The 2009 Rural Tourism Fair takes place January 19-30. Organizers
promise a very big small event. The fair is hosted each year by
Planeta.com and friends. Details
http://planeta.wikispaces.com/ruraltourism2009
"This year's event expands on what we've accomplished the past few
years in Oaxaca, Mexico," explained Planeta.com founder Ron Mader, who
created the fair in 2001 as a way of conducting an inexpensive
grassroots event to bring together locals and visitors. Among the
advances -- many of the local artisans and tour providers have their
own websites and photo galleries on Flickr.
Highlights
The objective of the Rural Tourism Fair is to highlight options
visitors have exploring the rural countryside in a responsible manner
while modeling what makes an authentic grassroots tourism event. The
fair features travel options around the world and encourages those
using Web 2.0 tools including Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube to
document best practices. Among the highlights -- a walk with the
weavers in the town of Teotitlán del Valle, dining adventures at the
Caldo de Piedra restaurant, local food tastings, a video night and a
hand's on visit to a community garden.
The event -- now in its 9th year -- is held in late January as a way
to kick start the new year and help participants get traction for new
projects.
Details
http://planeta.wikispaces.com/ruraltourism2009
The 2009 Rural Tourism Fair takes place January 19-30. Organizers
promise a very big small event. The fair is hosted each year by
Planeta.com and friends. Details
http://planeta.wikispaces.com/ruraltourism2009
"This year's event expands on what we've accomplished the past few
years in Oaxaca, Mexico," explained Planeta.com founder Ron Mader, who
created the fair in 2001 as a way of conducting an inexpensive
grassroots event to bring together locals and visitors. Among the
advances -- many of the local artisans and tour providers have their
own websites and photo galleries on Flickr.
Highlights
The objective of the Rural Tourism Fair is to highlight options
visitors have exploring the rural countryside in a responsible manner
while modeling what makes an authentic grassroots tourism event. The
fair features travel options around the world and encourages those
using Web 2.0 tools including Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube to
document best practices. Among the highlights -- a walk with the
weavers in the town of Teotitlán del Valle, dining adventures at the
Caldo de Piedra restaurant, local food tastings, a video night and a
hand's on visit to a community garden.
The event -- now in its 9th year -- is held in late January as a way
to kick start the new year and help participants get traction for new
projects.
Details
http://planeta.wikispaces.com/ruraltourism2009
London, UK - 3 February 2009
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced the 12 finalists for the 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards which recognise best practices in sustainable tourism in four different categories - Destination Stewardship, Conservation, Community Benefit and Global Tourism Business. ECOCLUB Business Members Ionian Eco Villagers (Web: www.relaxing-holidays.com) are one of three finalists in the Conservation Award category.
Announcing the finalists, Costas Christ, Chairman of Judges said: "We have reached a global tipping point in the travel industry, as more businesses and countries realise that sustainable tourism is not only about protecting the environment and safeguarding cultural diversity, but that it is also an important economic opportunity. The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards judging process goes beyond just what a company says it is doing in sustainable tourism. Our next phase of judging involves an on-site expert evaluation of each finalist to assess what they are doing in practice, leading up to the selection of one winner in each category. "
Founded in 1994, Ionian Eco Villagers is an agency run by award-winning local conservationist providing carefully selected self-catering villas, cottages & apartments in the peaceful village of Gerakas within the Zakynthos National Marine Park.
Related:
http://www.relaxing-holidays.com
http://www.tourismfortomorrow.com
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today announced the 12 finalists for the 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards which recognise best practices in sustainable tourism in four different categories - Destination Stewardship, Conservation, Community Benefit and Global Tourism Business. ECOCLUB Business Members Ionian Eco Villagers (Web: www.relaxing-holidays.com) are one of three finalists in the Conservation Award category.
Announcing the finalists, Costas Christ, Chairman of Judges said: "We have reached a global tipping point in the travel industry, as more businesses and countries realise that sustainable tourism is not only about protecting the environment and safeguarding cultural diversity, but that it is also an important economic opportunity. The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards judging process goes beyond just what a company says it is doing in sustainable tourism. Our next phase of judging involves an on-site expert evaluation of each finalist to assess what they are doing in practice, leading up to the selection of one winner in each category. "
Founded in 1994, Ionian Eco Villagers is an agency run by award-winning local conservationist providing carefully selected self-catering villas, cottages & apartments in the peaceful village of Gerakas within the Zakynthos National Marine Park.
Related:
http://www.relaxing-holidays.com
http://www.tourismfortomorrow.com
Oaxaca, Mexico - 6 February 2009
Voting is open until February 20 for the Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award. The Award will be presented to an indigenous tourism operation which has a website that promotes sustainable practices and educates visitors on cultural protocols and biodiversity conservation.
This initiative is a collaborative effort between Planeta.com and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to showcase best practices in web-based technologies helping indigenous people manage tourism in a biodiversity-friendly way. Tourism services owned and operated by indigenous people and communities are eligible for the Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award.
The award is part of a larger initiative by the Secretariat, aimed at building capacity for indigenous and local communities with the view to support and strengthen sustainable tourism initiatives through the use of new information and web-based technologies. It is a complement to the Indigenous Communities, Tourism and Biodiversity Workshop Series in which indigenous and local communities from each region are developing their own web based tools and methods with a view to improving their websites and their capacity to reflect traditional ways in conserving indigenous land, and to allow potential visitors and clients to learn about indigenous practices and cultures.
Planeta.com hosts a number of awards aimed at improving the quality of communication about responsible travel and ecotourism. Coverage of indigenous people and tourism are highlighted in the regional guides.
Details
http://planeta.wikispaces.com/itbw
Voting is open until February 20 for the Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award. The Award will be presented to an indigenous tourism operation which has a website that promotes sustainable practices and educates visitors on cultural protocols and biodiversity conservation.
This initiative is a collaborative effort between Planeta.com and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to showcase best practices in web-based technologies helping indigenous people manage tourism in a biodiversity-friendly way. Tourism services owned and operated by indigenous people and communities are eligible for the Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award.
The award is part of a larger initiative by the Secretariat, aimed at building capacity for indigenous and local communities with the view to support and strengthen sustainable tourism initiatives through the use of new information and web-based technologies. It is a complement to the Indigenous Communities, Tourism and Biodiversity Workshop Series in which indigenous and local communities from each region are developing their own web based tools and methods with a view to improving their websites and their capacity to reflect traditional ways in conserving indigenous land, and to allow potential visitors and clients to learn about indigenous practices and cultures.
Planeta.com hosts a number of awards aimed at improving the quality of communication about responsible travel and ecotourism. Coverage of indigenous people and tourism are highlighted in the regional guides.
Details
http://planeta.wikispaces.com/itbw
Oaxaca, Mexico - 6 February 2009
Voting is open until February 20 for the Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award. The Award will be presented to an indigenous tourism operation which has a website that promotes sustainable practices and educates visitors on cultural protocols and biodiversity conservation.
This initiative is a collaborative effort between Planeta.com and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to showcase best practices in web-based technologies helping indigenous people manage tourism in a biodiversity-friendly way. Tourism services owned and operated by indigenous people and communities are eligible for the Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award.
The award is part of a larger initiative by the Secretariat, aimed at building capacity for indigenous and local communities with the view to support and strengthen sustainable tourism initiatives through the use of new information and web-based technologies. It is a complement to the Indigenous Communities, Tourism and Biodiversity Workshop Series in which indigenous and local communities from each region are developing their own web based tools and methods with a view to improving their websites and their capacity to reflect traditional ways in conserving indigenous land, and to allow potential visitors and clients to learn about indigenous practices and cultures.
Planeta.com hosts a number of awards aimed at improving the quality of communication about responsible travel and ecotourism. Coverage of indigenous people and tourism are highlighted in the regional guides.
Details
http://planeta.wikispaces.com/itbw
Voting is open until February 20 for the Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award. The Award will be presented to an indigenous tourism operation which has a website that promotes sustainable practices and educates visitors on cultural protocols and biodiversity conservation.
This initiative is a collaborative effort between Planeta.com and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity to showcase best practices in web-based technologies helping indigenous people manage tourism in a biodiversity-friendly way. Tourism services owned and operated by indigenous people and communities are eligible for the Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award.
The award is part of a larger initiative by the Secretariat, aimed at building capacity for indigenous and local communities with the view to support and strengthen sustainable tourism initiatives through the use of new information and web-based technologies. It is a complement to the Indigenous Communities, Tourism and Biodiversity Workshop Series in which indigenous and local communities from each region are developing their own web based tools and methods with a view to improving their websites and their capacity to reflect traditional ways in conserving indigenous land, and to allow potential visitors and clients to learn about indigenous practices and cultures.
Planeta.com hosts a number of awards aimed at improving the quality of communication about responsible travel and ecotourism. Coverage of indigenous people and tourism are highlighted in the regional guides.
Details
http://planeta.wikispaces.com/itbw
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