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ECOCLUB, Issue 93
The hospitality industry is a service, not an invitation for maltreatment. We can choose to be a serious part of the problem or
choose to be a part of the solution. Sure, you can find inconsiderate proprietors everywhere, but there are better, ethical ways to
do business, which is what CCS strives for.
ECOCLUB.com: Travel journalism, is characterised, blighted according to some, by fam trips. What is your view?
Are these ethical? And do mass travel media have a genuine interest in your work and sustainability, or are they mostly
trying to attract lifestyle-conscious readers and advertisers?
Nikki Rose: Some people are looking for solutions to societal and environmental problems – to be "green", as they say. They
want to do a little or a lot in their own lives to make a difference. Businesses are the same. They can turn many shades of green
to supply demand. That includes the media.
A true green travel article should include facts about the destination’s action programs in cultural heritage preservation, fair
labour practices, social issues and environmental protection. So many exploitative businesses feed the travel industry. An article
listing interesting places to go is not enough information. Travellers might do more harm than good, if they don’t know the
whole story. For the many journalists that care, and know much more than they are permitted to report, I commend them on
working so hard - to fight to get their stories to us. As a writer myself, I know how hard this battle is. Also, as a host to a
continuous stream of journalists passing through Crete, it’s challenging to clarify how rare CCS projects are, and to keep our
work out of a potentially damaging mainstream box. CCS programs cannot be narrowed down to "a list." There is a fair amount
of information available to report on responsible travel respectfully and professionally. Publishers need to give journalists the
time to cover these stories properly. Responsible travel is not a trend or the wave of the future, it is a necessity of the present.
Access to the media is problematic for most responsible travel practitioners. By nature, projects are community-based small
businesses, so they have little influence in the PR world. 90% of the people in the CCS network do not have websites - it’s just
not feasible. So, if a journalist relies on the internet to find information on destinations, then RT practitioners are at a great
disadvantage. However, many projects are now listed in guidebooks and on web directories of conservation groups like
ECOCLUB, thankfully.
An increasing number of institutions are promoting responsible travel and subcategories thereof. This is great news to increase
awareness, although the more subcategories we have, the harder it is for travellers to find RT programs. Also, some group
membership fees and conferences are very cost prohibitive for practitioners. It’s as though the community is prohibited from
attending community meetings. RT develops from the ground up – within local communities. International awareness of the
issues and support can expedite that process. At this stage, more emphasis should be on sustaining current projects and
supporting expansion. Strong collaboration between advocates and practitioners is essential for the success of RT programs. If
advocates joined together to support practitioners in a very practical way, I think the message of responsible travel options
would rapidly increase.
Of course, travellers deserve a "great getaway" but they need to be aware that it might come at a higher price on society and the
environment than they ever imagined. People need more information in order to make better choices. Only responsible travellers
can sustain responsible travel programs.
ECOCLUB.com: Do you plan to expand your trips in Crete and beyond, or do you believe that small is beautiful?
Nikki Rose: I am currently working to establish a base for CCS - for experiential learning that will simultaneously help to
preserve Crete’s cultural-culinary heritage. The base will have an organic farm, of course, where we can organize more
intensive programs covering culture, farming and cuisine. It is what we have already done for over a decade, but we will be
saving precious time and our atmosphere by travelling less.
CCS promotes collaboration first and foremost, which is the only way to implement and expand long-term preservation
programs, in my opinion. So, when it comes to preservation, big is beautiful.
ECOCLUB: Thank you very much.
