Spotlight: Sustainability
Nature’s Best, the Ecotourism Society of Sweden, is Awarded the 2011 WWF Carl Mannerfelt Prize
January 25, 2012
Stockholm – The Ecotourism Society of Sweden has been awarded the 2011 WWF Carl Mannerfelt Prize for its work with sustainable tourism and the Nature’s Best quality mark. The prize is around USD 15,000. This is not the first time the Society’s groundbreaking work with quality marking has been acknowledged – it has previously won the Great Tourism Prize and the Änglamark Prize. ”We’re very pleased and proud about the prize. It’s particularly pleasing that our work with sustainable tourism is recognised in this way,” says Ulf Lovén, Chairman of the Ecotourism Society of Sweden, which now has over 200 quality-marked Nature’s Best activities in Sweden, from Skåne in the very south to Lappland in the far north. The prize, which was awarded for the final time last year, is aimed at stimulating sustainable use of natural resources with technical and financial development under the motto, “Conservation and Development”. The comment of the jury was as follows: “The... Read More →
Spotlight: Sustainability
Leading Travel Companies Commit To Sustainable Tourism Through the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria
January 24, 2012
Assistant Editor’s Note: We asked Erika Harms, the Executive Director of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, to answer a few questions for us – those answers are below, above the recent GSTC press release. Erika Harms What role do you see the ATTA and its members should / might want to play in support for the GSTC? (In the context of what you have in mind for the growing adventure tourism community especially). The adventure tourism community is a natural stakeholder for the goals of the GSTC. Sustainable Tourism, including not only environmental conservation, but cultural and socio economic benefits for local communities is at the heart of adventure travel. Promoting clear principles that define sustainable tourism clearly differentiates between green washers and the real deal. ATTA has the ability, but promoting the GSTC criteria and enabling access to its members to its implementation, can help those that are truly seeking sustainability make a difference. ATTA... Read More →
Spotlight: Sustainability
Sustainable Travel International’s STEP Eco-Certification Standard Recognized by Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria
January 16, 2012
Portland, OREGON– Sustainable Travel International (STI) is pleased to announce that its STEP eco-certification standard has been officially recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. To achieve this recognition, STEP underwent a rigorous review and authorization procedure. As a result, STEP is now considered equivalent to the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, the worldwide minimum sustainability requirements for tourism businesses of all sizes. “We’re very excited that STEP is among the first global standards to be recognized by the GSTC,” said Bobby Chappell, STI’s Director of Standards and Certification. “As we continue to build the case for sustainability in the travel and tourism industry, this recognition is further proof that STEP is among the most innovative, engaging, and accessible tools for businesses worldwide.” STEP is designed to help tourism businesses assess their operations and identify industry best practices, in order to mitigate harmful impacts... Read More →
Spotlight: SustainabilityWTTC Calls on Governments for Low-carbon Growth Policies in the Tourism Industry
December 21, 2011
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has issued a Communiqué during the International Climate Change Negotiations in Durban which urges governments to develop Climate Change policies which ensure that Travel & Tourism can grow sustainably and continue to provide millions of new jobs across the planet, regardless of whether an agreement is reached in Durban. As one of the world’s largest industries, generating more than 9% of global GDP and accounting for some 260 million jobs worldwide, the continued growth of the Travel & Tourism industry is critical to the economic and social wellbeing of millions of people, and is therefore a key driver of economic recovery. As such, Travel & Tourism has an immense role to play in climate change mitigation and adaptation. To help governments expand on the sustainable policy structure needed, WTTC is calling for: Supportive and progressive policy frameworks; Programmes which foster innovation; Investment in transparent reporting,... Read More →
Oceania Spotlight: Sustainability
Eco-tourism Lodges to be Built in Queensland’s Most Stunning National Parks
December 13, 2011
Australian news site, news.com.au, has reported that the Queensland government has approved plans to build five eco-tourism lodges across several of the state’s best national parks. The lodges will receive 20 year lease and license options instead of the normal ten year options, as operators said the 10-years leases were not long enough to see profit of the investment costs. Meetings are being set up between Tourism Minister Jan Jarrett, Environment Minister Vicky Darling, conservation groups and ecotourism operators to polish the fine points…. Ms Darling said detailed analysis of everything from environmental values, to access, transport and heritage values was carried out before one site, in Moreton Island National Park, was removed due to environmental reasons. “Protecting the natural values and the beauty of our national parks was the number one priority,” Ms Darling said. “This is about promoting our parks so more people can appreciate conservation while... Read More →
Spotlight: SustainabilityGérard Moss Decorated by Queen Elizabeth
November 22, 2011
Gérard Moss, creator of the Flying Rivers Project will receive the MBE from Queen Elizabeth on November 18th, at Buckingham Palace in London Gérard Moss will receive from the hands of Queen Elizabeth the medal and title of Member of the Order of the British Empire – MBE, a distinction for services to society that merit public recognition. Gérard will be decorated for services rendered in environmental questions that involve Brazil and therefore the whole world. Environmental explorer, pilot and engineer, Gérard adopted the brazilian nationality two decades ago and has dedicated years to promoting the preservation and rational use of water. More recently through the Flying Rivers Project that he set up, he made possible a body of research that and communicated how the Amazon rainforest influences climate in Brazil, focussing specifically on the concerns about water and rain. “I am very surprised and honoured to be indicated to receive the MBE, a distinction... Read More →
Spotlight: Sustainability
Global Sustainable Tourism Council Announces Two New Initiatives: GSTC Process Recognizing & Rewarding Practitioners of Sustainable Tourism & Destination Level Criteria Development
November 14, 2011
Washington, D.C. – The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC Council) announced the launch of two initiatives this week that reflect the organization’s efforts of the past two years: The GSTC Process and Destination Level Criteria Development. The GSTC Process for recognizing and rewarding genuine practitioners of sustainable tourism is defined in three stages: GSTC-Recognized, GSTC-Approved and GSTC-Accredited. In the initial stage, sustainable tourism standards apply to become GSTC-Recognized. Once recognized, these standards are considered equivalent to the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria. The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria are the worldwide minimum requirements for tourism businesses of all size to approach sustainability. In stage 2, certification programs apply to become GSTC-Approved to ensure that they meet GSTC requirements for processes and procedures. To apply, certification programs must use a GSTC-Recognized standard (Stage 1), pass a desk-audit by the... Read More →
Spotlight: Sustainability
Join Friends of Serengeti
November 14, 2011
Pressures on the Serengeti ecosystem have become critical. Population has soared, habitat is being lost, and poaching, roads, towns, and mines threaten this priceless ecosystem. Friends of Serengeti is a nonprofit association for the travel industry that was formed in response to these threats. It’s mission, to bring together travel companies and travelers to build a permanent structure of support, advocacy, and funding for the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Friends of Serengeti combines travel marketing and conservation. It offers an important new marketplace for safari operators, lodges, and hotels. Member companies have an important way to stand out and get noticed by travelers. The premise of the association is that the travel industry must give back, and companies that give back should in turn benefit from their efforts. Member companies raise funds by educating their travelers and asking for donations to fund important projects. Modeled after the successful International Galapagos... Read More →
Spotlight: SustainabilityIn Tourism (And Beyond), Talking About Sustainability Is Dead. Tell A Story Instead.
October 11, 2011
Khajavi addresses the conference in Costa Rica (Paula Alvarado). A report in Treehugger profiled the Planet, People, Peace conference on ecotourism in Costa Rica recently and focused on the talk given by Director of Global Strategy at Mercury CSC Alexi Khajavi and General Director Dierdre Campbell of the Tartan Group, both active ATTA members. The focus of the session was how communication with customers must shift away from certifications and labels and towards storytelling, especially in a climate where consumers increasingly expect sustainability from brands: “The traveler has advanced past looking for green travel products in the stage of purchase to having to have those experiences and sustainability practices embedded into the business and the experience themselves,” explained Khajavi. “Sustainability is still a component of the criteria, part of the story, but not the story itself. People don’t travel for sustainability, they expect it to be sustainable... Read More →
Spotlight: Sustainability
Indian Court Urged Not to Ban Tiger Tourism by Tour Operators, Travelers
October 11, 2011
Photo: tofttigers.org According to a recent article published in The Telegraph, the Supreme Court of India is considering banning tiger tourism and safaris in “core” tiger habitats, out of the concern that such trips are adversely affecting the approximately 1,400 wild tigers left in the country. They are being urged by a group of travelers, tour operators and local travel industry stakeholders to reject the ban. “This is a critical ruling for the future of tiger tourism in India,” said Julian Matthews, chairman of TOFT [Tour Operators for Tigers]. “Banning tourism from the core areas of tiger reserves is an irresponsible and unnecessary move that will have many negative consequences. “Tourism in tiger reserves provides an income to thousands of people, many of them local to the area of the reserves. Closing tourism in these core areas will cause the number of people visiting these reserves to drop drastically.” TOFT and critics of the ban claim that it would not just... Read More →
