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ECOCLUB, Issue 95
ECOCLUB.com: You are a great fan of the Internet, and maintain various websites and blogs. How has the Internet
changed Tourism in your view?
Aivar Ruukel:
It has changed it a lot, indeed. But I do believe that it will change a lot more. Direct connection between
consumer and local service provider has not been possible before. The Internet is a great tool for communication: e-mail,
messenger, skype, chatrooms, forums, podcasts, blogs, all different social features...Marketing online is not free, but it costs less
than traditional ways. The big difference is that also micro-businesses, like mine, can reach a global audience.
I really do enjoy following the development of virtual world and invest my time for that. How ever, it is hard to predict what
future brings. Just one example: two weeks ago Estonia opened an embassy in the internet-based virtual world Second Life, only
the third country to do so!
ECOCLUB.com: You recently spoke at the Global Ecotourism Conference in Oslo. What is your evaluation of this
event and what can be done to make it better, from the point of view of national ecotourism associations?
Aivar Ruukel: I very much enjoyed this event in Norway. Good that it took place so close by, almost next door. Like on every
seminar or conference the best part was meeting people. Some old friends and many new. Meeting face to face with people that
you knew only through the Internet. I do appreciate sharing my own experience with colleagues from other countries, our
realities have differences but much more we have in common. Contacts with people from other national ecotourism
associations, that was created in Oslo, have been already developed further, and discussions, started in Oslo, continue online.
ECOCLUB.com: Finally, what would you like to see in the global Ecotourism movement in the next 5 years?
Aivar Ruukel:
I would like to see much more people everywhere in the world to understand the meaning of Ecotourism. I
would like them to change focus from content to the form - it does not matter where to go, or what to experience, it does matter
HOW to do it.
ECOCLUB.com: Thank you very much!
