Community-based Tourism Expert Joins Adventure Travel Trade Association’s Advisory Board

30 January 2013
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Seattle, WA. -  Adding to their global advisory board, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) today announced that conservation and tourism expert Ms. Maxi Louis has joined the 20 member board. Louis’s depth of experience working with communities in Namibia to utilize their natural resources in a sustainable manner directly supports the ATTA’s mission to drive the adventure travel industry to grow responsibly.

The continent of Africa, which is expected to grow its GDP to $29 trillion by 2050, offers vast opportunities for emerging destinations. Namibia’s predominant conservancy model allows private enterprises to work with government on community-based tourism. With this model, wildlife-rich Africa has tremendous potential for sustainable economic growth that benefits the communities living in rural, natural areas all while conserving and coexisting with wildlife.

Over the last 15 years, Louis has worked on a Community-Based Natural Resources Management Program within Namibian government and non-government agencies which focus on providing quality services to rural communities that seek to manage and utilize their natural resources sustainably.

“Asking Maxi Louis to join our board was a natural extension of our global approach to responsible adventure tourism development,” said Mr. Shannon Stowell , President of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. “She brings to our industry deep knowledge of community based tourism and a unique perspective of Africa. As a founding member of the Namibia Community Based Tourism Association, we believe her contributions to the ATTA community, like in Namibia, will lead to the proliferation of innovative and inclusive solutions that consider the success of the community, land and wildlife as a whole.”

Maxi Louis and ATTA Advisory Board biographies can be found at www.adventuretravel.biz.

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