The President Signs the Travel Promotion Act
March 5, 2010
Gap Adventures Launches Global Online Contest – “Create Your Own Adventure”
February 9, 2010
Toronto – To celebrate 20 innovative years providing life-changing travel experiences across the globe, Gap Adventures is launching the Create Your Own Adventure contest (www.createyourownadventure.com), the largest and most ambitious interactive competition in the company’s history.
The global online contest invites everyone from once-a-year vacationers to seasoned globetrotters to submit an itinerary for the tour of their dreams, virtually anywhere in the world, virtually any way they want. The winning entry – determined through public online polling and input from a panel of world-renowned judges – will be featured in a Gap Adventures brochure in 2011.
“Create Your Own Adventure is the biggest and most exciting contest we’ve ever staged,” said Gap Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip. “I’m thrilled that in celebration of our 20th anniversary, we’re inviting everyone from aspiring to avid travellers to build their dream itinerary and share it with the rest of the world. One of our company’s core values is to create happiness and community the world over, and I can’t think of a better way of doing that than by unlocking the creativity of so many people.”
That nine-person panel includes Lonely Planet co-founder Tony Wheeler, filmmaker and adventurer Celine Cousteau – the granddaughter of iconic explorer Jacques Cousteau – Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, National Geographic Adventure Magazine editor-in-chief John Rasmus, explorer and BBC presenter Benedict Allen, Outside Magazine executive editor Mike Roberts, adventurer Alastair Humphreys, polar explorer and author Tom Avery, and Gap Adventures’ Bruce Poon Tip.
Everyone with a winning tour idea can log on to www.createyourownadventure.com and use the customized itinerary engine to select up to three countries to include as part of their trip, a name and duration for the tour and a selection of highlights and activities. They will then be asked to provide a summary of why they think theirs is an adventure like none other. Deadline for submission is March 31, 2010.
The creator of the winning tour will have the opportunity to experience their adventure along with two lucky friends, and enjoy a host of exciting prizes – provided by Sony Canada, Lonely Planet, Kobo Books, KEEN Inc., Outside Magazine, World Nomads and Universal Music Canada. In addition, five Mystery Tour winners from around the world will be chosen through a draw to join the lucky creator on this inaugural trip. The winners will be announced May 25, 2010.
About Gap Adventures
Gap Adventures is a world leader in the adventure travel industry offering small group adventures on all seven continents and beyond to more than 100,000 global travellers annually. The award-winning trips, which focus on culture, nature and active travel, are ideal for those with a sense of adventure – people who want to leave the beaten path and authentically immerse themselves in a local culture or environment to experience the real world in a sustainable manner. Demonstrating its ongoing cultural, social and economic commitment to responsible tourism, Gap Adventures established the Planeterra Foundation, as a way the company and its passengers can give back to the communities visited.
Discover France Adventures Becomes One of only Four Officially Licensed Tour Operators for the Tour de France
January 14, 2010
Scottsdale, AZ—Discover France Adventures, an award winning specialist in journeys to France, recently announced that it is one of only four tour operators worldwide that are officially licensed to sell Tour de France tours in 2010. As officially licensed tour operators for the Tour de France, Discover France Adventures will offer trips that provide cycling enthusiasts with exclusive and elite access to all major Tour de France events.
Guests on Discover France’s VIP Tour de France itineraries will be granted access to the Tour Village before the start of each day’s stage as well as special access to the team and press areas after each stage finishes. This access is usually only reserved for race officials, pro athletes and other VIP’s, but Discover France’s guests will be able to mix and mingle with the pros. In addition, VIP guests will have the opportunity to cycle our along the route of the Tour on the same day as the pro stage and just ahead of the pro riders themselves. Guests will be able to access the final kilometers of the race and ride to the finish line and then access the famous podium for pictures.
Discover France Adventures will offer both “Challenging” and “Moderate” VIP and “Domestique” cycling tours for the 2010 Tour de France:
VIP Trips (includes access to “pros” areas)
* Challenging VIP Alpes Trip – 7 nights trip
* Challenging VIP Pyrenees Trip – 4 or 3 or 7 Night trip options
These trips will offer the VIP access to the Village, ride on closed roads, travel by deluxe motor coach, accommodation in deluxe hotels and be cared for by professional French/English speaking guides.
* Moderate VIP Cycling Tour – 7 night trip in Provence/Languedoc region
This trip will offer the VIP access to the Village, ride on closed roads, travel by deluxe motor coach, accommodation in deluxe hotels and be cared for by professional French/English speaking guides. This trip will also incorporate cultural visits, wine & gastronomy, and heritage sites.
Domestique Trips (no access to “pros” areas)
* Challenging Guided Alpes Domestique – 7 Nights
* Challenging Guided Pyrenees Domestique– 7 Nights
* Challenging Alpes + Pyrenees Domestique – last 2 weeks of the Tour de France to the finish in Paris
* Moderate Provence/Languedoc/Bordeaux Wine Country Tour – 7 nights Best of Southern France
* Self Guided Tours with GPS; Alpes – 4 and 7 Night Options; Pyrenees – 4 & 7 Night Options
Groups will vary in size from 16 to 25 persons with a professional guide ratio of 1 per 8. To ensure a place on these exclusive Tour de France tours, pre-book now at http://www.discoverfrance.com/tour-de-france.html or contact Loren Siekman at 480-905-1235. Guests who have pre-booked can cancel without penalty until December. For more information about the Tour de France, visit www.letour.fr .
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A New Vision: Science and Tourism under the Stars
December 23, 2009
Madrid and Canary Islands – The StarLight Tourism Certification System (Starlight Certification) was presented yesterday, 22 December, in a Press Conference held at UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) Headquarters in Madrid. It aims at bringing closer two key components of contemporary society: Science and Tourism.
On the one hand, in this recently opened post-Copenhagen era, it has become suddenly obvious that scientific facts per se will not mobilize political institutions. The outreach of science, its penetration of institutions and civil society have been shown essential.
On the other hand, tourism appears both as a victim and a vector of climate change. Irresponsible tourism will contribute more and more to CO2 emissions; in the end a negative backlash could affect tourism activities as whole.
But tourism can be an excellent vehicle for new ideas and responsible social behaviour. The right coupage of science and tourism could contribute to the global acceptance of the “new ways”, the “green economy” and the “global sustainable village”.
In this framework, the StarLight Certification sets a model for the use of Science both as a resource for tourism and an essential part of sustainable tourism practices. The StarLight Certification indicates that a tourism destination complies with a voluntary standard involving the preservation of nightscapes, including the night sky and the nocturnal bio-systems. Of course it is also concerned with energy conservation and with the use of natural and cultural resources at night time. It is a quality pre-condition for scientific activities in the certified destinations (especially Astronomy): in some cases for professional practitioners, but also importantly, for amateur scientists and students, and for the sensitization of important segments of the general public.
Some world-class destinations –in New Zealand, the Pacific, South America and Europe most notably—have already started to develop astronomy and nightscape-based tourism products and attractors. The task is now to set the criteria and the resulting standards for the optimization of this science-tourism experiences.
This is the raison-d’être of the StarLight Certification. It aims to ensure the quality of tourism experiences involving the nightscapes, the view of stars and the cosmos and the related scientific, cultural and environmental knowledge. This gives tourism a new dimension, aiming to foster its potential to create, disseminate and internalize knowledge and, especially, the very precious scientific knowledge necessary to guide as all in these times of urgent changes.
The StarLight Certification thus evaluates excellence in tourism management processes ensuring customer satisfaction, long-term sustainability and competitiveness and value for the communities, professionals and workers involved, along with night-sky quality and strategies aimed at providing high-ranking scientific knowledge experiences for the visitors and tourists.
The presentation of the StarLight Certification was carried out by Francisco Sánchez, Director of the Astrophysics Institute of the Canary Islands, Eduardo Fayos-Solà, Executive Secretary of the Education and Science Council, UNWTO-World Tourism Organization, Cipriano Marín, Coordinator of the StarLight Initiative and Antonio Gallardo, Director of the Fuerteventura Unesco Biosphere Reserve.
Tourism governance organizations world-wide with adequate nightscape characteristics and wishing to obtain more information on the StarLight Certification, should address their messages of interest to Mr. Cipriano Marin – Dr. Eduardo Fayos-Solà at certification@starlight-foundation.org
Green Living Project Launches Mobile Tour
December 2, 2009
New event marketing and educational outreach strategy will reach over 100 venues (schools, retail stores, festival’s, etc) in 2010; Supports new Education Program
Los Angeles, CA – Green Living Project, the leading media production and marketing company showcasing global sustainability initiatives, has launched a new Mobile Tour as an event marketing and educational outreach strategy for the North American market. Initially targeting schools, retail stores, and festivals, the Mobile Tour’s grassroots approach complements the company’s existing core customer base, while reaching new youth and active-lifestyle markets.
With over 100 events planned in 2010 across North America, the Green Living Project Mobile Tour will visit schools (K-12, college, graduate), specialty retail stores, regional festivals and trade shows, zoo and aquariums, outdoor/recreational clubs, community centers, and more. The Mobile Tour will directly reach the important youth and active-lifestyle markets in order to educate and inspire them on the importance of global sustainability and giving back or volunteering with communities around the globe.
The Mobile Tour Team is composed of seasoned professionals in education, teaching, community outreach, science, conservation, and global sustainability initiatives. Through the Team’s expertise, the Mobile Tour also supports Green Living Project’s new Education Program & Curriculum that allows students of all ages to monitor, track, and interact with GLP’s future domestic and international media expeditions focused on documenting unique and successful sustainability-related initiatives.
“Our 6th graders had such a great time learning about the various sustainability projects currently going on in South America,” said David Knight, 6th grade teacher for Prairie View Middle School (Henderson, CO). “We look forward to spending more time discussing everything that was presented. Thanks again. We really appreciate and love what the Mobile Tour is doing and can’t wait for them to return in 2010!”
“Even though we are a small retail store in a small town (Buena Vista, CO), the Tour Team made us feel important by spending several hours with us.” Said Keith and Evelyn Baker, co-owners of The Trailhead, “They were well prepared, professional, and highly educated on these global sustainability projects. It was a great learning experience for everyone and we hope the awareness they are raising nationwide will gain momentum in this important new endeavor.”
Green Living Project will collaborate with existing mobile tours such as Leave No Trace®, Backpacker’s Get Out More, and various film festival tours. Additional partners and sponsors include National Geographic Adventure, Earthwatch Institute, The School for Field Studies, Sierra Designs, Gregory Mountain Products, Keen Footwear, Clif Bar, Brunton, and Guyot Designs.
“What we found most attractive about Green Living Project is that their mission and the way they go about it are very much in line with what we are trying to accomplish,” said Sue Edmiston, marketing manager for Sierra Designs. “Their desire to spread the word about global sustainability mirrors our Green Effect program which works to utilize recycled materials and cleaner manufacturing processes wherever possible. The fact that the Tour Team will be camping along the way also agrees with our dedication to encouraging an outdoor lifestyle. We look forward to an exciting partnership in 2010.”
“We initially launched the Mobile Tour due to constant requests from around the country to have our popular multi-media events visit their respective city or town, said Rob Holmes, founder and president of Green Living Project. “At the same time, while the tour complements our existing event marketing strategies, it also expands our distribution to reach new consumer markets around North America. It is also a key driving force behind our exciting new Education Program & Curriculum, which connects students from around the world with our award-winning story telling on successful sustainability-initiatives. All students can now monitor, track, and interact with our work around the globe.”
For more information, visit www.greenlivingproject.com/mobiletour . Follow the Mobile Tour via GLP’s Facebook and Twitter sites.
Computer Animation Not Just for Video Games—AIA Awards New Grant to Help Save Cultural Heritag
December 2, 2009
Project Will Use Technology to Recreate a Five-Thousand-Year-Old Chalcolithic Roundhouse in Cyprus
BOSTON — The Kissonerga archaeological sites in Cyprus will benefit from a Site Preservation Grant from the Archaeological Institute of America. The grant will finance the use of 3-D and computer animation technologies to complement the reconstruction of a five-thousand-year-old Chalcolithic roundhouse. AIA funds will support the filming of the physical reconstruction of the building and the creation of color 3-D computer imagery of the artifacts found in the house to give visitors a vibrant sense of the use of the building.
The reconstruction is part of a larger project led by Dr. Lindy Crewe of the University of Manchester to illuminate human experience in a single locality through time by investigating the nearly continuous occupation of Kissonerga Village from 10,000 years ago to the present. AIA President, Dr. C. Brian Rose, says, “This project is very exciting because it not only preserves the actual ruins, but allows visitors to immerse themselves more fully in prehistoric Cyprus using virtual reality so they can experience what life would have been like at that time.”
Prehistoric archaeological sites in Cyprus are frequently left out of the island’s narrative, and their low visibility makes them difficult to preserve given the rapid development of the island as a tourist destination. By using the latest 3-D and animation technologies to create tangible educational tools at Kissonerga, the project hopes to instill a greater appreciation for all periods of Cyprus’s occupation in both the local population and visitors. Dr. Paul Rissman, AIA Site Preservation Committee Chair notes, “Technology is playing a much more important role—not only preserving our heritage—but in providing new ways for people to experience archaeological sites and learn about the past first-hand.”
About AIA Site Preservation Program and Grants
The AIA Site Preservation Program emphasizes education, outreach, and best practices in archaeology, and is currently supporting preservation projects in Assos, Turkey, and Easter Island. In addition to grants, the AIA Site Preservation Program includes advocacy to help stop the unnecessary destruction of archeological sites, U.S. Troop education, outreach activities for children, online resources for the public and professionals, workshops, and awards for best practices. All aspects of the program, including the awarding of grants, are made possible through donations to the AIA. To learn more, please visit www.archaeological.org/sitepreservation.
About Archaeological Institute of America (AIA)
Founded in 1879, The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) is North America’s oldest and largest archaeological organization. Today, the AIA has nearly 200,000 members belonging to 107 local societies in the United States, Canada and overseas. The organization promotes public interest in the cultures and civilizations of the past, supports archaeological research, fosters the sound professional practice of archaeology, and advocates for the preservation of the world’s archaeological heritage. The organization hosts archaeological fairs, lectures and other events throughout North America; publishes Archaeology magazine and the American Journal of Archaeology; awards fellowships and honors; and leads global archaeological travel excursions.
For more information please contact:
Ben Thomas, AIA Director of Programs—bthomas@aia.bu.edu 617-353-8708
Meredith Anderson, AIA Site Preservation Program Coordinator—manderson@aia.bu.edu 617-358-6098
Tour Industry Executives Team Up for Global Sustainability Initiatives
September 17, 2009
Robin Tauck welcomes a new Senior Partner, Randy Durband
(September 9, 2009) — Robin Tauck, now of Robin Tauck & Partners today announced a new Senior Partner, Randy Durband, former President of both Travcoa and Intrav/Clipper, subsidiaries of TUI Travel (formerly First Choice Holidays).
Robin Tauck and Partners is dedicated to new public-private partnerships to raise awareness, advocacy, financial and other resources to assist initiatives of significant global impact.
In making the announcement, Ms Tauck said, “As the former President and CEO of Tauck World Discovery, I traveled to more than 65 countries and hundreds of experiential places on missions of cross cultural education and tourism development. I became immersed in the challenges impacting our public lands and common places, world heritage sites, and unique culture traditions. In 2008, I formed a new entity to engage the travel industry to promote action to collaborate in new solutions for global environmental problems.”
Durband, a 28-year industry veteran, adds, “Robin and I have a combined 50 years of travel industry expertise and we plan to use our experiences and lifetime connections to engage and inform a wider audience on the power of travel and travelers. The world is facing unprecedented challenges, yet there is a tremendous opportunity to grow economically and promote sustainable travel worldwide.” For more information: www.robintauck.com
For inquires:
203-227-0677 or email: info@robintauck.com
Joanne Chochos – Executive Assistant
TIES Joins the ATTA’s 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit to Co-Lead Sustainable Tourism Trade Forums
August 25, 2009
(SEATTLE) – (August 25, 2009) – Two newly featured forums scheduled for the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit, both addressing sustainable tourism, will gain heightened conservation expertise and perspectives through the first-time conference collaboration between the ATTA and The International Ecotourism Society (TIES).
ATTA and TIES, which for years have together explored common interests in promoting responsible tourism and sustainable practices, are co-developing and will co-lead the Meeting of the Minds and Collaborative Learning interactive forums. The ATTA’s trade-only Adventure Travel World Summit is set for October 19-22 in Charlevoix, Québec Province, Canada.
“Tackling matters such as sustainable tourism requires the best minds,” said ATTA President Shannon Stowell. “The Summit offers a timely and high quality setting to join minds, debate openly, share resources, bring common visions together, and to ensure these discussions continue long after conference. With the ATTA and TIES collaborating, we’ve got an incredible opportunity to create the perfect forum for the subject.”
ATTA and TIES guided, the two-part Meeting of the Minds “Sustainability” forums will address key challenges and opportunities concerning a variety of topics (e.g., carbon offsets, voluntourism, education, outreach, training, etc.) brought forth by the global adventure travel industry for collective brainstorming, dialogue and debate. Whereas the Meeting of the Minds “think-tank” forums will focus on broad industry matters, the two Collaborative Learning “Sustainable Tourism in Emerging Destinations” forums will provide delegates the chance to share and explore their own real-world case studies to build understanding, to gain practical tools, insights and action plans for organizational implementation.
“Participating in the ATTA’s Adventure Travel World Summit is a great opportunity for our two organizations to visibly convey our shared interests in sustainability initiatives,” said TIES Chair Dr. Kelly Bricker. “We’re thrilled to represent TIES global network at the Summit, where sustainability is at the forefront of innovative and interactive discussions. TIES will be able to contribute to and help strengthen the industry-wide efforts to mainstream sustainability through education, collaboration and proactive outreach.”
Others actively contributing sustainability expertise to these forums include;
- Dr. Rachel Dodds – Icarus Foundation
- Richard Edwards – Planeterra
- Megan Epler Wood – EplerWood International
- Sarah Fazendin – The Fazendin Portfolio
- Christina Heyniger – Xola Consulting
- Nadia LeBon – Mountain Lodges of Peru
- Brad Nahill – SEE Turtles
- Wallace J Nichols – OceanRevolution.org
- Daniella Ruby Papi – PepyRide
- Valere Tjolle – VISION on Sustainable Tourism
Adventure Travel World Summit sponsors include: Host Destination Tourisme Québec and Aventure Ecotourisme Québec; Major Sponsors ExOfficio and Men’s Journal; and Key Sponsors Alpine Tourist Commission, Archaeology Magazine, Best of the Alps, Brazil, Tourism Promotion Corporation of Chile, Eddie Bauer, Innovation Norway, and National Geographic Adventure. Summit registration: www.adventuretravelworldsummit.com.
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About The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) (www.ecotourism.org) is a non-profit association committed to promoting ecotourism, which is defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people” (TIES, 1990), through outreach, education, and collaboration. TIES’ global network supports and is supported by members from over 90 countries, who are leading the vital efforts to make travel and tourism more sustainable. A global source of knowledge and advocacy, TIES’ Your Travel Choice Blog (www.yourtravelchoice.org) offers an interactive platform to engage, educate and inspire everyone to make travel choices that make a difference.
About the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)
Established in 1990, the ATTA (www.adventuretravel.biz) is a global membership organization dedicated to unifying, networking, professionalizing, promoting and responsibly growing the adventure travel market. ATTA members include tour operators, destination marketing organizations, tourism boards, specialty travel agents, guides, accommodations, media and service providers. Host of the annual Adventure Travel World Summit executive trade conferences, the ATTA also makes possible www.Adventure.Travel, the traveler’s hub of physical, cultural and nature-based adventure travel and guide to trusted tour operators from around the globe.
Partners ATTA & AIA Release First Version of “Guide to Best Practices for Archaeological Tourism”
June 18, 2009
Tourism Industry Feedback Sought, Deadline for Comment July 15, 2009
(June 18, 2009) — Archaeological sites and historic places are major tourist attractions worldwide. In the last few years, visits to historical sites have ranked third—after dining in restaurants and shopping—among activities undertaken by Americans traveling abroad. The number of people that visit archaeological sites rises every year and this increase can have significant negative impacts on archaeological sites. In many instances, increased visits have led to damage at sites and often portions of sites have to be cordoned off from the public to prevent further deterioration. In extreme cases, sites have been closed to the public.
The popularity of archaeological sites as tourist attractions makes them valuable sources of revenue, but unfortunately economic exploitation of sites is often not matched by reinvestment in proper site management to ensure both protection of the site and its continued enjoyment by visitors. Archaeological sites are fragile resources and inadequate site management will result in deterioration or even destruction of the site and its related social, historical, educational, and economic potential.
With these concerns in mind the ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE of AMERICA (AIA), ARCHAEOLOGY magazine (ATTA Contributing Sponsor), and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) created this manual of good practices for anyone interested in visiting archaeological sites. The guide outlines practices that allow for proper, sustainable archaeological tourism, giving visitors the opportunity to fully experience ancient sites while minimizing any negative impact. The guide is an important resource for tour operators who wish to incorporate archaeological sites in their tour packages, for tour guides who lead people through the sites, for tourists who want to see these sites first hand, and for site managers charged with the maintenance and protection of sites. In conjunction with adequate and properly funded site management plans, these guidelines will help ensure that the public enjoy the experience of visiting ancient places for generations to come.
Tourism industry professionals are encouraged to download and review the first release of these guidelines, and to forward feedback directly to editor@adventuretravel.biz by July 15, 2009. Feedback is requested on the overall content, structure and actual recommendations. Please email key suggestions. You may also use the “Track Changes” function as appropriate for general comment and specific recommendations and/or considerations you suggest the AIA & ATTA consider. Feedback will be evaluated and considered for guideline improvements.
The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) is North America’s oldest and largest organization devoted to the world of archaeology with nearly 250,000 members and subscribers belonging to more than 100 local AIA societies in the United States, Canada, and overseas, united by a shared passion for archaeology and its role in furthering human knowledge.
Travel Documentary Scholarship: Go on assignment to Vietnam and have your video broadcast on Nat Geo Adventure!
June 16, 2009
World Nomads, in conjunction with Buffalo Tours, are offering the chance for one lucky aspiring filmmaker to kick start their documentary career.
Go on assignment deep into Mai Chau Valley, with documentary producer Trent O’Donnell (who filmed Positive Footprints shown on Nat Geo adventure channel).
Trekking with a team of 20 doctors, medical students & volunteers who will be providing vital services to remote hill tribes in Northern Vietnam, you will create your own short video documentary.
The lucky scholarship recipient will have their video considered for broadcast on Nat Geo Adventure. That’s right! The holy grail that documentary makers spend their whole lives trying to achieve, could be yours now!
Deadline for applications July 5, 2009. apply go to link:
http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships/post/29785.aspx
For more information:
http://indochinatravelblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/world-nomads-travel-scholarship-with.html
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