Sorry, is that yours...."

One of the main problems with the development of tourism as a method of promoting and developing a country in the developing world, is that both tourists and the multi national companies that facilitate this tourism often find themselves in a position that unknowingly takes advantage of the hosts...

Poor wages and working conditions, acculturation, loss of homes and lands, raises in taxes and costs of basics such as food, water and power are just some of the problems, and for many peoples this cost is too high for the amount of benefit that tourism can bring...

But what can we do? Most of us visit these places and people with the belief that we are making a positive difference, and are often unaware of any problems that we could potentially be creating...

One way is to back companies such as (one of our charities of choice) Tourism Concern who work to help ease these tourism related problems...

"Putting Tourism to Rights" is one of their campaigns, and they say that "Thousands of people all over the world endure abuses of their basic human rights due to tourism. Our campaign is calling on governments and industry to to more to respect and protect the human rights of destination communities and industry employees..."

Please take time to look at this site, and see if you too can help to make a difference, at http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/index.php?page=campaigns

Thanks.

Barticus.

"Keep it in the community..."

With the 90's buzzword "eco-tourism" now well and truly on the decline, the tourism industry must learn methods to deal with the ever growing area of concern that is "sustainability" within the sector...

But what is sustainability within tourism? And how will this effect the future of how and where people choose to travel? Let me share my (personal) thoughts on this...

For many sceptics there is only one answer to end the damage that travellers and tourists inflict on destinations, and that is not to go there in the first place. But this can never be the total answer. Yes, this would alleviate the problems that the tourists can cause, but would in the end lead to a state of total ignorance about the actual destinations themselves, which would quickly mean people forgetting about the issues that led to the issues of sustainability in the first place...

Traditional lines of tourism and tourism investment (especially in the developing world) lead to more money being taken out than left in the country, so helping the developed world more than the developing one. So not much is left...

At least with community based tourism it is all about the hosts themselves. With all decision making processes and controls left to them they are in a position to gain pride and empowerment as well as the more obvious economic benefits. This pride will cut acculturation and other negative effects of tourism whilst allowing the host to grow and become more independent...

So, is this the answer? Only the future will know...

Barticus.

"Go explore ..."

So many travellers are forced to think about the ramifications of the most simplest of trips in a modern society that regularly uses such buzzwords as "sustainability" or "eco" as a method of questioning weather or not this trip is necessary in the first place...

So what to do? Fortunately a new report from Ethical Traveler helps to smooth the way by showing the 10 best developing places to go that are best protecting their natural environments, promoting responsible travel, and building a tourism industry which provides real benefits to local communities. ...

They say "Are you the kind of traveler who wants to have a great time AND feel good about where your travel budget is going?..."

"In drafting our report, we use scores of information sources - including publicly available data - to rate each country's genuine commitment to environmental protection, social welfare, and human rights," said Christy Hoover, co-author of the report. "Data sources include the United Nations Development Program, Human Rights Watch, Columbia University, Reporters Without Borders, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and many others. Private interviews with NGO leaders are part of the process, as well."

So, to help you sleep at night instead of worrying too much, visit http://www.eturbonews.com/13108/new-report-helps-travelers-plan-ethical-vacations for more information.

Barticus.

"Keepin' it green(ish)..."

Although we are aware that the only real method of sustainable transportation is to travel everywhere solely on foot, we are also aware that this is not ever going to be common place. So this story follows how those clever Dutch chaps at KLM have operated its first ever passenger flight powered by sustainable biokerosene...

Johan van de Gronden, director of WWF The Netherlands: “We want to protect our fragile natural environment against climate change. Clean technology is one way to reduce the impact that humanity has on our climate. The establishment of SkyEnergy is a groundbreaking initiative and KLM’s demonstration flight using biokerosene is a concrete and positive step on the way to a sustainable future...”

Mr. Hartman: “KLM has been involved in biokerosene research since 2007. With the establishment of SkyEnergy, we are accelerating development and hope to achieve a market breakthrough. We are moving forward with great resolve. But we cannot do it alone. We need the support of government, industry and broader society...”

KLM and Air France are jointly pursuing an ambitious Climate Action Plan. The fruits of this endeavour are exemplified by the fact that Air France KLM has been the sector leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability for five consecutive years...

Good luck to them all..

Read more at http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/34375-KLM-takes-strides-in-sustainable-air-transport

Barticus.

"Show me the future..."

The Tourism 2023 project report has been launched at the ABTA Travel Convention in Barcelona, and is now available online (at http://www.forumforthefuture.org/projects/tourism-2023) to help the UK outbound travel and tourism industry understand the challenges it faces and plan for a sustainable future...

They note that the project has identified three potential work streams on issues which require urgent industry collaboration: demonstrating that tourism delivers real socio-economic benefit to tourist destinations; making tourism a low-carbon, low-impact industry; and encouraging demand from customers for sustainable tourism...

But what of future trends? Vivid details bring the world of each scenario to life and are designed to provoke debate. Will mass tourism, swollen by the Chinese and Indian middle classes, cause huge overcrowding in popular destinations? Will soaring oil prices make air travel so expensive that families have to save for years to fly abroad? Will we see “Doomsday tourism”, with visitors rushing to see glaciers and coral reefs before they’re gone for good? Or will household “carbon quotas” see Britons go back to holidaying at home? We can only guess...

This story offers great insight to the future possibilities of the industry, so please go to http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1139627.php?news_cat=3 and the link above to learn more.

Barticus.

"But I am CONCERNed...."

News reaching us today about our charity of choice "Tourism Concern" airing it's views with regards to the effects of the tourism industry in developing areas...

Tourism Concern claims tourism developments often exploit tribal people, force locals from their homes and damage the environment...

The campaigning charity’s latest report, Putting Tourism to Rights, calls on the UK government and tourism industry to tackle poverty by protecting the rights of local people...

Tricia Barnett, Tourism Concern director, said: ‘While tourism has great potential to create wealth and improve the lives of local communities, our report shows that it is often developed at the expense of human rights. This is particularly true for people who are poor and easy to exploit, often driving them deeper into poverty....’

These worries, along with many others, are the things that we need to address if we are to continue to develop towards a committed and sustainable future for the travel industry...

Please follow more at http://www.e-tid.com/News-Home/Tourism-charity-challenges-human-rights-abuses.aspx

Barticus.

"Pay attention, it's your place too..."

Tourism. It's got to be possitive. It's got to be planned. It's got to be sustainable...



I was thinking about the future of the industry and I came across this article from Sue Hurdle, the chief executive of The Travel Foundation...



Looking at green projects and initiatives such as "Every drop counts" she helps to show ways that we can all help towards the sustainability of tourism and improvement of the industry for the future...



"Customers are more aware of issues such as climate change and are beginning to look to companies to provide evidence of their commitment to people and the environment.

At the same time, destinations are looking for ways to differentiate their product to gain competitive advantage - and by demonstrating their ‘green’ credentials they can do just that..."

please follow this to see the difference YOU can make at http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1139529.php?news_cat=3

Barticus.

"Staying in National Monuments...."

New from South Africa Tourism is the idea that you can go and stay in a range of national monuments...

For those who prefer luxury and a sense of the past to minimalist lines and modern efficiency, it is possible to indulge your inner history fundi, and plan a visit to South Africa’s many national monument hotels and lodges. From self-catering lodges to 50-room hotels, there’s a destination to suit every budget....

But of course the question has to be in sustainability and impacts to the host communities as these monuments are taken over just to try to get more tourist revenue, and will this have a detrimental effect on the areas in the future...

Follow the link and ask the same questions http://www.southafrica.net/sat/content/en/za/full-article?oid=115561&sn=Detail&pid=1

Barticus.

"Welcome to my humble abode...."

Dehli, India is the place to go for a positive bed and breakfast revolution...

Since 2006 people have been able to register their own houses as individual "bed and breakfasts" and this story follows one of these owners. Ajay inherited his sizable plot after his parents died. Separated from his wife, Ajay did not want to wander around an "big empty home", but was a self-confessed novice to the hospitality business.
He has learned fast. Since they opened their home in the upmarket Nizamuddin colony, Ajay and his 14-year-old daughter live upstairs, while downstairs sees a constant flow of tourists and company executives...

The rooms, which start at 3,750 Rs (£47) a night including breakfast, come with private bathrooms, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. All have marble floors and there's fresh bedding and towels every day. Less than 100 metres away from the front door lies the red stone grandeur of the tomb of Abdul Rahim Khan-e-Khana, a Mughal poet...

The views of us here at GTI that community based tourism such as this is the best chance we have for on-going sustainability, so we think projects like this are the future...

Find out more at http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/nov/10/delhi-bed-and-breakfast-india

Barticus.