Spotlight on Sustainable Tourism (SOST) by Spotlight on Sustainable Tourism (SOST)

Issue 11 â&#x2014;? February 2014 ISSN 2227-4065

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Siraj Centre, Palestine

Feature: Why the Tourism Industry needs to take a Human Rights Approach

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism: Cat ba Eco-Lodge, Vietnam

Point of View: Tourism Can Help Reduce Pressures of Urbanization

Contents

Kumud Sengupta Managing Editor email: m.ed@sostinternational.com

20 30

SOST TEAM M. Ivanova

Contents

B. Thomas J. Vaz

SOST February 2014

ABOUT SOST

Editorial

Feedback:

SOST gets feedback from around the world

News & Events:

SOST shares news and updates on its activities

09 Feature: Why the Tourism Industry needs to take a Human Rights Approach

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism: In the Spotlight:

Siraj Centre, Palestine Cat ba Eco-Lodge, Vietnam

25 Point of View: Tourism Can Help Reduce Pressures of Urbanization

29 Market Intelligence: The 10 YFP Global Survey on Sustainable Tourism

(SOST) is an e-journal published by Market Vision for internal circulation and to our clients and subscribers. It is available to our website visitors

Green Showcase:

Rainbow Lodge, Cambodia

Spotlight on Sustainable Tourism

on: www.sostinternational.com

Green Business Directory

Listing of Eco-businesses

Market Vision Research & Consulting Services FZ-LLC

Market Vision:

- Travel & Tourism Research & Consulting - Sustainable Travel Development â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Advisory Services

P.O. Box 32394, Dubai, UAE Tel: +9714-3911241 Fax: +9714-3911245 www.market-vision.com

Editorial

Change is apparent, and the momentum for sustainable tourism is gaining ground. The Emirate of Ajman in United Arab Emirates will host a GCC Ecotourism Conference in March 2014, marking the UAE’s drive towards sustainable development. SOST is pleased to support this initiative.

SOST’s mission is to motivate stakeholders in the travel & tourism industry to adopt sustainable business practices with the message that sustainable tourism is ‘Good for the Planet and Good for Business’.

Last year, we partnered with WTTC for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards at its annual Global Summit, held in Abu Dhabi. We are pleased to announce that for the second year running, SOST has signed a media partnership agreement with WTTC to support its Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The Winners of the 2014 Awards will be announced at the signature ceremony during WTTC’s annual Global Summit, taking place in Hainan, China, 24 April 2014. In this issue, we showcase the finalists for the Awards. Many in the tourism industry are increasingly embracing the sustainability agenda. Our lead feature - Why the tourism industry needs to take a human rights approach: The business case – urges the industry to recognise that true sustainability means taking a human rights approach to tourism. In our Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism feature, we showcase Siraj Centre in Palestine and Cat ba Eco-Lodge in Vietnam. In Green Showcase, we present Rainbow EcoLodge in Cambodia that embodies the principals of sustainability. Our contributing writer for the column Point of View is Gautam Sen Gupta, Director of Market Vision and promoter of Gras Academy, a vocational training provider in India . An ex-hotelier, Gautam talks about how tourism can help reduce the pressures of urbanization in developing economies such as India . Last but not the least, in Market Intelligence, read about the Global Survey on Sustainable Tourism conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, we look forward to your comments and feedback. Let us know what else you would like to read about. Happy Reading!

Kumud Sengupta Managing Editor Certified Assessor & Consultant for Sustainable Tourism Founder-Director, Market Vision

Feedback

Thank you for the article in SOST. For us this (WARTA) award is a recognition of a constant battle of over 2 decades to launch sustainable tourism in our state. I sincerely thank you. Ramesh C. Jangid, Founder Apani Dhani Rajastan, India

We look forward to be a member of SOST and promise to actively promote responsible and Eco tourism programme in Rwanda in collaboration with other organizations globally. Gregory Bakunzi Amahoro Tours Rwanda

I am the owner of a guesthouse and I practice agro-tourism. I am very interested in SOST , it is excellent. Elvita Limock, Owner Rodrigues Island Mauritius

Wow ,thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great articles in SOST. Thank you. Nixon Abuya, Marketing and Tour Consultant Kent Tours and Travel Kenya

Thank you for all your help with the 2013 Awards and especially for your support at the WARTA event and the production of a fabulous article on our Winners and Finalists in SOST. Amy McLoughlin Responsible Tourism Awards Coordinator & Associate Specialist Wild Asia Malaysia

The coverage on winners of Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards was excellent and very inspiring. Neha Mohindra Mumbai, India SOST goes from strength to strength. The article on Pack for a Purpose was great.. Thanks for showcasing it. Marium Siddiqui Dubai, UAE

SOST is read by a diverse audience consisting of professionals in the tourism industry, tourism business owners, destination marketers and academia. It has particularly found favour with those interested in sustainable and responsible tourism. SOST is promoted to (a) a growing database of subscribers and customers numbering over 10,000 travel and tourism industry professionals, and (b) online business networks with memberships exceeding 100,000. It is also read by visitors to its recently launched website: www.sostinternational.com, and Facebook page: www.facebook.com/sostjournal. Twitter account @SOST_intl has also been recently launched â&#x20AC;&#x201C; do follow us. Launched in March 2012, four issues of SOST were published in the year. From 2013, SOST has become a bimonthly publication (six issues per year). For sponsorship and advertising details, please contact: advertise@sostinternational.com.

News & Events

The emirate of Ajman is to host the GCC Ecotourism Conference in March 2014, marking the UAE’s drive towards sustainable development. The conference will bring together a number of specialists representing tourism ministries and travel organizations in the Gulf region, as well as representatives of hospitality, tourism and aviation sectors.

investigate the challenges facing ecotourism in the Gulf region, and the ways to protect wildlife. The conference will also study the shortcomings of the Ecotourism industry in the Arabian Gulf region targeting representatives of all sectors in the Gulf tourism industry such as hospitality sector, travel and tourism, airlines and attractions.

During the event, which takes place on March 30 and 31, delegates will

In its final session, the conference will present recommendations that would

For the second year running, SOST has signed a media partnership agreement with WTTC to support its Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The Winners of the 2014 Awards will be announced at the signature ceremony during WTTC’s annual Global Summit, taking place in Hainan, China, 24 April 2014.

Eighteen finalists of 2014 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards have been revealed in six categories. This year’s finalists range from local destinations to global hotel groups, international airlines, luxury tour operators and small eco-lodges. Award applications were received from 56 countries, representing all continents. All finalists will now go through the 2nd Round of Judging - on-site evaluation visits. To find out more about each Finalist, see pages 7 & 8.

contribute to achieving sustainable economic gain that can be harmonious with the necessities of preserving the environment and its resources. SOST will present a session on “Communicating sustainability: attracting and influencing customers’ choice behaviour’ at the conference.

News & Events

Kumarakom in the Indian state of Kerala, has become the first Indian destination to win an UN Award for sustainable tourism. Right from coconut leaves weaving to coir making, toddy tapping and a country boat ride through the lush green Vembanad Lake, a tourist visiting Kumarakaom gets hands on experience about the village life in the popular destination. Kerala's Responsible Tourism initiative, a programme that integrates the region's residents, practices and culture into all

The segments Responsible Tourism, Adventure Travel and Youth Travel & Economy Accommodation will feature more than 130 exhibitors from 35 countries at ITB Berlin 2014, March 5-9.

facets of the tourism industry was started in 2008 in Kumarakom. And after six years of hard work, it has helped the state bag the UN World Tourism organisation award. According to the state level Responsible Tourism coordinator Roopesh Kumar, "The Kumarakom tourism industry was in stagnation due to clashes between the locals and industry. Before starting this project only 10 percent of the locals got a job but now about 60 to 70 percent locals are being employed in resorts.”’

The popular programme provides an enriching, diverse and hand-on experience for tourists while allowing local businesses and culture to thrive. Suman Billa, Tourism Secretary, stated: "We got a model which is brilliant and which is accepted by the local community, now the challenge is to extent this to other parts of the state. My aim is that in the next 5 to 8 years responsible tourism should be extended to the whole of Kerala." Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kerala-bags-unaward-for-sustainable-tourism/450988-62-126.html

be talking about how destinations can develop tourism in sustainable and socially responsible ways.

70 exhibitors will be represented in the segments Responsible Tourism and Adventure Travel alone. Several events on sustainable tourism will be held, with topics including human rights in tourism, sustainable tourism initiatives following the Arab Spring in Tunisia, and wildlife poaching.

Speakers at the event will include Gera Voskanyan, Partnerships & Communications Manager and Ecotourism Expert, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), who will be talking about Armenia’s nature reserves and cultural heritage, as well as Rati Japaridze, Chairman of the Agency of Protected Areas in Georgia, who will be talking about his country’s unrivalled biodiversity. At the Master Class on Sustainable Mountain Tourism, Dr. Auliana Poon, Managing Director, Tourism Intelligence International, will

Twenty-four companies from the tourism industry in Qatar committed to responsible and sustainable tourism development by signing a Global Code of Ethics for Tourism on 24 February 2014 in Doha, Qatar.

collaborative nature of our tourism sector to develop the industry. The code aims at helping minimize the negative impact of tourism on the environment and cultural heritage and maximize benefits of tourism destinations for residents.”

“Response to the code has been impressive. This makes us a leader in responsible tourism development, sending the message that Qatar is not compromising its environmental and cultural heritage in developing its tourism sector,” said Al Mohannadi.

Qatar is one of the first in the region to sign the code, which is already signed by 254 companies and associations from 32 countries.

In the past few months QTA started an initiative that is encouraging tourism stakeholders to sign the code.

According to Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, “This demonstrates the

Participating in the initiative will ensure that Qatari tourism sector meets the highest international standards and offers products and services of best quality.

Experts from Thailand, Greece, Colombia, Russia and UNWTO will be reporting on their projects, too. Responsible Tourism Clinics organized by The Blue Yonder (covered in SOST issue 10), ITB’s Responsible Tourism Partner, will also take place. Source: http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/itb-berlin-2014-towitness-over-130-exhibitors-focusing-on-sustainabletourism-adventure--youth-travel-23257

Adopted in 1999 by the UNWTO General Assembly, the code is UNWTO’s core policy document that serves as a blueprint for the development of sustainable tourism. It was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2001. Source: http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/news/qatar/274017/24firms-sign-global-code-of-ethics-for-tourism

News & Events

Eighteen finalists of 2014 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards have been revealed in six categories.

Community Award • Abercrombie & Kent, Kenya Celebrating 50 years in business, Abercrombie and Kent is world renowned for quality safari products. • Arviat Community Ecotourism, Canada Arviat is a sustainable, community led tourism product in the northernmost Canadian territory. • Basecamp Explorer Kenya, Kenya Basecamp Explorer is a tourism company, founded in 1998, that operates several camps in Kenya on an ecofriendly or conservancy model. Destination Award  Burren&Cliffs of Moher Geopark, Ireland The Geopark supports people and organisations to work together to ensure a cared-for landscape, a better understood heritage, a vibrant community and strengthened livelihoods. • Temes S.A. – Costa Navarino, Greece Situated in the Mediterranean, Costa Navarino Is a luxury resort with strong commitment to environmental responsibility. • Bonito, Brazil Bonito is an ecotourism model for Brazil, that started accommodating tourists in early 1990s. There are spectacular natural resources in the surrounding area, that are being regulated and maintained by the local authorities.

People Award • SA College for Tourism, South Africa The only specialist tracker training school in South Africa. It is a non-profit organisation seeking to train young, unemployed individuals from marginalised rural communities living adjacent to wildlife areas in these traditional skills. • Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Laos Set up in 2008, this organisation stands to revolutionise an industry that is vital to the future economic growth of one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations. • Central College Nottingham and The Institute of Travel & Tourism of The Gambia, UK & Gambia Education focuses on how best tourism can work for local communities so they do not compromise their culture, ethics and religious beliefs, nor become exploited economically.

Business Award • Asilia, Tanzania Asilia has thirteen properties in Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique, and employs 600 staff, 95 per cent of whom have an African nationality and 30 per cent are employed locally. • Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong Cathay Pacific is the international flag carrier of Hong Kong. The Cathay Pacific Sustainable Development Strategy is designed to embed sustainability into mainstream thinking of the company. • TUI Travel, UK TUI Travel PLC, international leisure travel group’s sustainability policy is to make travel experiences special whilst minimising environmental impact, respecting culture and bringing economic benefits to communities.

News & Events

Environment Award • Great Plains Conservation, Botswana/Kenya Great Plains Conservation strives to secure African landscapes of a scale large enough to also protect its resident and seasonal wildlife populations. It leases and operates low impact safari camps and conservation activities on half a million acres and hopes to expand to five million in the next ten years . • Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Australia Stretching 7.5km through the tropical rainforests of North Queensland, Skyrail provides people with a unique opportunity to see and experience the rainforest in a safe and environmentally friendly way.

• Chepu Adventures Ecolodge, Chile An eco-lodge built with sustainable materials and using only renewable resources, they maintain their sustainable status by constantly reinvesting in lessening their footprints. • Lapland Vuollerim Welcomes You, Sweden Founded in 2008, a house to house enquiry was carried out to garner innovative and original ideas that could help the community attract visitors to the area. There are now 50 genuine Lappish everyday life experiences on offer, where guests interact with local people.

Congratulations to all the Finalists, and Good Luck from SOST!

• Jetwing Vil Uyana, Sri Lanka Located in the shadow of the UNESCO World Heritage site and rock fortress of Sigiriya, the concept of this hotel was to create a place off unique beauty. Vil Uyana’s environmental creation sits perfectly with Jetwing’s sustainable tourism ethos where the Jetwing Eternal Earth Programme (JEEP) is the umbrella term used for all community and nature-based projects.

Innovation Award • Ecosphere, India This is a social enterprise located in the Spiti Valley, at 4000 metres in the transHimalayas region of India. As a high altitude cold desert region, the tourist season is short. However, steeped in cultural traditions and surrounded by natural heritage, they have turned their everyday assets into innovative, extraordinary tourism products.

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are aimed at recognising best practice in sustainable tourism within the Travel & Tourism industry worldwide. Given the growing concern about natural and cultural resources, these Awards are particularly important to WTTC and provide the Council with the opportunity of promoting and partnering with the industry leaders in responsible tourism, highlighting the prime examples of best practice. More info: http://www.wttc.org/tourismfortomorrow/awards/

Feature

Why the tourism industry needs to take a human rights approach: The business case Many in the tourism industry are increasingly embracing the sustainability agenda. This includes some of the smallest and largest tour operators, hotel groups and travel trade associations. The next challenge is for the industry to recognise that true sustainability means taking a human rights approach to tourism. Introduction A human rights approach means recognising and addressing the multiple human rights impacts and issues associated with tourism. It makes business sense on several levels. This includes risk management, competitive advantage, social sustainability, and business leadership and ethics. Human rights arguably underpin all three elements of business sustainability: social, environmental and economic. For example, by reducing its water consumption, a hotel not only alleviates environmental impacts and reduces its costs, but may also decrease the risk of infringing on the rights of local communities to clean water and sanitation. Lack of respect for human rights, leading to environmental degradation and bad community relations, can undermine the tourism destination and product in both the long and short term, which will ultimately impact on a company’s bottom line. The idea of a human rights approach to tourism is nothing new. The UN Guiding

Principles on Business and Human Rights clarify and elaborate on the roles and responsibilities of companies, including tourism stakeholders, in respect to human rights. They present a vital opportunity to build upon and broaden initiatives undertaken to date. Tourism’s potential to contribute to social and economic development is considerable. However, this potential is often undermined by the negative impacts of tourism.

Human Rights Issues in Tourism Non-profit organization Tourism Concern’s report, Putting Tourism to Rights (2009), documents the many human rights violations that occur as a result of tourism across the world. These include forced relocation, illegal land acquisitions, pollution leading to ill health and loss of livelihoods, inequitable access acquisitions, pollution leading to ill health and loss of livelihoods, inequitable access of livelihoods, inequitable access to water and other scarce natural resources, cultural erosion, poor pay and working conditions, child labour and

• • • • • • • • • • •

Key human rights issues in tourism Labour conditions and a living wage Land rights and forced displacement The rights of indigenous peoples The right to water and sanitation The right to life and health The right to dignity and privacy Economic exploitation Cultural exploitation Child labour Sexual exploitation The right to participate

sexual exploitation. Typically, these impacts are hardest felt by the poorest and most vulnerable people in society. However, poverty leaves many without a voice, which means the human rights abuses they endure remain hidden. Why do human rights matter to my business? Tourism is commonly cited as one of the largest and fastest growing sectors. Its growth is part of the wider

Feature

expanding role and power of business in an increasingly globalised world. This expansion means that corporate responsibilities in relation to human rights are under growing scrutiny by governments, international development agencies, campaigning groups and the business sector itself, including shareholders and investors. Numerous companies from a range of business sectors have been implicated in human rights scandals in recent years, including many in the tourism industry. ‘Naming and shaming’ by campaigning groups and the media is common, facilitated by the growth in new media and social networking, and numerous legal cases have been brought against companies accused of human rights abuses. Almost all see their reputations and brand images suffer, with consequences such as loss of share value, increased security and insurance costs, expensive lawsuits, and even consumer boycotts.

Business sense Globally, growing numbers of businesses are seeking to demonstrate their respect for human rights by incorporating human rights standards within their core business

practices. They recognise that adopting a human rights approach makes sense on a number of levels: • Reducing and managing risk • Competitive advantage and opportunities for growth • Promoting positive business ethics and social sustainability Companies that manage risk by adopting clear human rights policies and mechanisms for their implementation are better prepared to prevent human rights abuses and to effectively deal with any allegations of abuse or complicity that arise. This is particularly true for companies operating in countries where the rule of law is weak, or where human rights norms and practices fail to comply with international law. Many of these countries, such as Egypt, Burma, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Zanzibar, are popular tourism destinations. This means that adhering to a nation’s laws may not always be enough for a business to manage risk sufficiently and ensure a socially sustainable approach. For example, there are many cases of governments selling off public land to

tourism developers without adequate consultation with local communities, who may lack official deeds but depend on the land for their livelihoods and have lived there for generations. These deals often lack transparency or accountability, and sometimes involve communities being forcibly displaced from their land with little or no compensation. So although the State may be directly responsible for any alleged human rights violations, companies taking over the land and those with whom they contract may also be perceived as complicit.

What are responsibilities?

business

What does the business responsibility to respect mean and how can it be implemented? The UN Guiding Principles set out three components for companies in this regard: 1.Having a human rights policy 2.Undertaking human rights due diligence 3.Establishing remediation processes A policy statement A clear statement setting out a company’s commitment to respect human rights should serve as the foundation stone.

Feature

A human rights approach is integral to true sustainability. Residents of the Bahamian island of North Bimini protest against the construction of a mega-resort.

A hotel belonging to a major international chain collapses whilst under construction in Jamaica. Workers endured poor safety and pay.

According to the Guiding Principles, the policy should be approved at the most senior levels. It should be informed by relevant expertise, communicated internally and externally, and integrated into operational policies and procedures.

may be affected. In this way, human rights due diligence should also help companies address the risk of legal action by demonstrating that all reasonable steps to avoid involvement in an alleged human rights abuse have been taken.

Undertaking human rights due diligence Human rights due diligence can help businesses reduce the risk that their activities are infringing the rights of others. The four aspects of due diligence are set out in the right-hand box. It should be an ongoing process and requires procedures that allow a company to become alert to, prevent, mitigate, and provide redress for adverse human rights impacts resulting from its activities or associations.

Remediation The third aspect of the corporate responsibility to respect relates to remediation. This requires companies to provide for, or cooperate in, remedial processes to address the grievances of those who believe their rights have been violated by company activities.

Adopting a human rights approach requires tourism businesses to think not only in terms of their spheres of influence, which has tended to limit industry initiatives to issues around child exploitation and human trafficking, but also in terms of spheres of responsibility. It requires companies to recognise their potential to contribute to a range of human rights impacts, and necessitates efforts to engage directly with those who

These may be a companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own operational-level processes, or other judicial or non-judicial processes, for example, the grievance mechanism provided by the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Article 10 of the UNWTOâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Global Code of Ethics for Tourism also provides a potential mechanism for dealing with disputes regarding the interpretation and implementation of the Code, which can be raised with the World Committee on Tourism Ethics. A human rights approach to tourism is integral to true sustainability. It is in

The four elements of human rights due diligence 1.Identifying and assessing direct/indirect and actual/potential human rights impacts 2.Integrating the impact assessment findings into company processes and addressing any negative impacts 3.Tracking and reporting performance 4.Communicating measures to address human rights impacts externally keeping with emerging international business and human rights norms, standards and practices, notably the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. All tourism stakeholders, including the tourism industry, have a responsibility in helping to address the human rights challenges involved in tourism development. These issues must be addressed if tourism is to be truly sustainable.

Feature

Existing tools and guidance for business There are numerous guidelines and toolkits that are freely available online, and which are designed to assist businesses to adopt and implement a human rights approach. Some of these are highlighted below: Tool

Produced by

Description

Human Rights Translated: A Business Reference Guide

International Business Leaders Forum, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, UN Global Compact, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Explains human rights in a way that makes sense to business, using case studies to illustrate how human rights are relevant and can be managed in a corporate context

Global Compact Network Netherlands (Business and Human Rights Initiative(

Designed for use as a background document for companies by elaborating some of the main topics in the discussion on business and human rights

Business Leaders Initiative on Human Rights (BLIHR), the UN Global Compact and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

An online tool offering practical guidance to companies wanting to take a proactive approach to human rights within their business operations; of use primarily to business leaders and managers in large and medium-sized enterprises

International Business Leaders Forum, International Finance Corporation and the UN Global Compact

An interactive online tool providing companies with guidance on how to assess and manage human rights risks and impacts of their business activities

UN Global Compact

A step-by-step guide, featuring examples of good practice and outlining a pathway to implementation

The Danish Institute for Human Rights and the Human Rights and Business Project

A tool to help companies detect potential human rights violations caused by their operations on employees, local residents and other stakeholders

Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, UN Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative

This guide helps companies begin a process of indentifying human rights issues in their operations and translating these into meaningful and effective reporting. Written primarily for companies that do not have extensive human rights reporting experience

http://humanrights.unglobalcompact.org/doc/ human_rights_translated.pdf

How to do Business with respect to human rights: A Guidance Tool for Companies www.genetherlands.nl/docs/how_to_busines s_with_respect_for_human_rights_gen_neth erlands_june 2012.pdf

A Guide for Integrating Human Rights Into Business Practice www.integrating-humanrights.org

Guide to Human Rights Impact Assessment and Management www.guidetohriam.org

Guide to How to Develop a Human Rights Policy www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/issues_doc/ human_rights/Resources/How_to_Develop_a _Human_Rights_Policy.pdf

Human Rights Compliance Assessment Quick Check www.humanrightsbusiness.org/files/4221576 96/file/quick_check_august_2006.pdf

A resource Guide to Corporate Human Rights Reporting www.globalreporting.org/NR/rdonlyres/4C5D B4C6-5084-4A84-BE510D134B3B5A2F/3583/HR_ReportFINAL_Res ource_Guide.pdf

The full report Why the tourism industry needs to take a human rights approach: The business case can be accessed online on: http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/uploads/file/campaigns/TourismConcern_IndustryHumanRightsBriefing-FIN.pdf The contents of this article have been extracted from the above report, with permission from Tourism Concern. References in the article may be checked in the full report.

Siraj Center

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Siraj Center, Palestine

Siraj Center is a center for holy land studies. Since 2005, it has managed to achieve its vision of becoming one of the most prominent and innovative organisations which has driven the development of responsible tourism, re-branding Palestine as a destination for experiential travel and human connection. In this interview Michael Awad, Director of Siraj Center, provides detailed information about the organisation and its activities.

Siraj Center started operations back in 2005. How did it come about? What was the motivation to set it up? As part of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People, and the sole non-profit organization, licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, our vision is to welcome international visitors to immerse themselves into Palestinian hospitality, our cultural heritage and unspoiled nature, bringing about a life-enriching exchange and understanding between Palestinians and visitors from other cultural, religious and social backgrounds. Through Sirajâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision, we were instrumental in leading the initiative to

create the Network of Experiential Palestinian Tourism , as well as the Palestinian Responsible Tourism initiative. The motivation was to get away from mass tourism , which does not really bring economical and social benefits, and create a Centre to promote more responsible and sustainable tourism in Palestine .

What is Sirajâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core sustainability philosophy and its key features? We aim to widen the range of beneficiaries of the local rural communities involved in the tourism

product through our environmentally friendly tourism packages, such as the Abraham Path Initiative, Palestine, Walk Palestine, Jerusalem Wilderness and Bike Palestine. We will carry on by offering further development training, empowering those in marginalized positions such as women, to realize the

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Siraj Centre

value and importance of their own capacity, thus reaching their full potential in hosting and offering their best range of services to their guests, through home stays, food catering and handicrafts. Ownership of the tourism product is of utmost importance for Siraj. To reach our goals, we will continue to partner with marginalized local and Bedouin communities, offering responsible and ethical local guide and hospitality training, leading to community empowerment, and showcasing the natural beauty of Palestine and its people. The key features of our philosophy include:  Widen the range of beneficiaries  Bring real economical benefits to rural areas  Minimise the negative impact of mass tourism  Pay fair wages  Have a Code of Conduct, including rules such as - respect the religious beliefs of visitors and the freedom of religious worship; appreciate cultural diversity; respect ways of dressing and food preferences of visitors.  Distribute the income fairly amongst product producers, providers, sellers and intermediaries.

 Sell national and local products and handicrafts to tourists. Consider adopting fair trade standards.  Develop means of communication and opportunities for interaction between Palestinians and tourists.  Improve marketing of local handicrafts and national products.  Raise awareness that programmes of Palestinian travel agencies should include different aspects of Palestine, i.e. religion, politics, economics, cultural heritage and leisure.

 Introduce environment friendly principles to the operation of hotels, guest houses and restaurants and inform your guests about your standards. Increase the environmental awareness among Palestinians and provide a tourism that respects the environment.  Increase transparency in business practices and engage in ethical competition which does not harm the value of tourism.

Siraj Center

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

You have several travel and tour programs that you offer tourists to Palestine. Please explain the responsible tourism components of these programs. A variety of programs are offered to the guests. These include:  Local community training - we have organized community training, where locals are being empowered by inclusion in the decision-making process to take ownership of the project which has resulted in achieving economic, social and environmental aspirations of both local residents and visitors.  Cycling programs - Bike Palestine is a unique program, the only longdistance cycle tour through the country. Participants are invited to explore the landscapes, villages, cities, refugee camps, culture and cuisine of Palestine in one memorable journey.  Interfaith programs - Siraj is committed to creating mutual understanding and tolerance between people of different faiths; and the Holy Land is the perfect place to establish common ground.  Fact finding programs - The aim of this program is to educate international visitors, whether students or journalists, authors or activists, about the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict by providing safe and secure tours of West Bank conflict zones,

facilitating dialogue with people who have been and are directly affected by the conflict, and setting up meetings with prominent peace activists, political officials, and human rights organizations from both sides.  Youth Exchange programs - Siraj encourages youth exchange programs with young people from all over the world, to promote personal dialogue that will help them in their future work for peace and justice.  Local Host family programs - Siraj can arrange short or long term accommodations with caring, hospitable, local families, sure to be an enriching experience for both parties. While living in a Palestinian home, guests can learn some Arabic (or practice what they already know), enjoy delicious food, tea and sweets, and have a unique firsthand encounter with the life and culture of Palestine.

 Hiking and Cultural Programs - This program is for travellers who want a unique and intimate encounter with the geographic landscapes and authentic culture of the Holy Land. From village to village, home to home, desert to desert, shore to boat, they pass through olive orchards and sheep pastures, ancient ruins and Biblical cities, stopping for lunch in locals’ homes and witnessing traditions that have lasted for thousands of years. All programs maximize the encounter of local community, bring real economical benefits to rural areas and allow tourists to explore Palestine in a responsible manner . While discovering Palestinian cultural, people are being motivated to preserve their cultures as well.

You mentioned that you provide training to locals in rural communities. What does that include and how does it help?

Siraj Centre

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Based on our belief that both tourists and hosts can be enriched by human encounters through tourism, we invite travellers to meet the Palestinian people and explore their culture. We create unique tourism products, which maximize the contribution of the local community. We train locals within rural and Bedouin communities to be empowered, becoming the decision makers and owners of the packages which we offer to visitors, thus increasing local engagement, economic benefits through job creation, and chances for improved social development. We advocate best practices resulting in positive impacts, while minimizing negative effects on our cultural heritage and environment.

How do you increase local engagement among visitors to create positive impact? As mentioned, Siraj promotes a number of environmental packages like hiking,

biking and walking tours. Our packages allow homestays where guests stay with local families and rural communities, instead of using hotels, thus increasing cultural exchange and bringing economic benefits to the local communities.

The Palestinian Initiative for Responsible Tourism (PIRT) is a network of organisations, associations and public bodies committed to work for responsible tourism to the Holy Land and to act as advocates for this approach to tourism.

People who stay with the Palestinian people carry positive images about Palestine and its people, their warm hospitality and graciousness. They also are mindful of the environment.

We are committed to transforming the current tourism patterns in the Holy Land by encouraging pilgrims and tourists to include Palestinian cities, towns and villages in their itineraries in order to achieve a more equal distribution of tourism revenues to all people in this land.

Siraj is part of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People and has also led the initiative to create the Network of Experiential Palestinian Tourism as well as the Palestinian Responsible Tourism initiative. Can you tell us something more about these endeavours?

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Siraj Centre

Having your local community at the centre of your operation will enrich the experience of your guests and encourage more dedicated, satisfied staff. to become involved in tourism activities and to earn a fair income from the process. We believe that protecting and preserving the environment is of utmost importance, and thus we are searching for less harmful ways of providing tourism services. We call on all service providers to commit themselves to responsible business practices and to renounce exploitative behaviour. Our objective is to promote a just and responsible tourism in Palestine that benefits the Palestinian people, pilgrims, tourists and all other stakeholders in tourism in the country without harming local communities.

Please provide some insights into your customers’ profile and their motivations to visit Palestine.

Our customers come from all over the world – Europe, Americas, Asia. They are from a wide range of age groups, however mostly mature people, who are interested to learn more about a country that is full of history. All the customers are already interested in responsible tourism and they like being involved in the culture and the landscape of the place.

Siraj has been the finalist for the WTTC Community Benefit Award 2013 and also won the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award 2012. What do these accolades mean for Siraj, its staff and the local community? For the staff it is an appreciation for our hard work, and it also highlights the experiential tourism product and the

unique products that Palestine has to offer. This reward is also a motivation for us to work harder and to always strive for better results. For the local community, it is an appreciation for their warm hospitality and their honourable cultural and traditions. What is your sustainability message to the travel trade? Having the local community at the center of your business operations will enrich the experience of your guests and encourage more dedicated, satisfied staff. Preservation of the local environment and its people will help sustain your destination – your source of livelihood – for generations to come.

Siraj Centre

International recognition:

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

SOST Assessment

➜ Siraj Centre demonstrates compliance with most indicators for baseline certification under the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC). ➜It is recommended that Siraj Centre have a water conservation policy to conserve water and identify areas where water can be conserved.

➜ Using its documented energy records and its records of company travel to calculate its total net annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, using a nationally or internationally accepted GHG calculator or protocol is also suggested.

SOST Assessment is based on the business’s response (self-reporting) to a series of questions on sustainability policies and practices in line with GSTC-complaint criteria. It is undertaken by SOST’s Managing Editor – a certified auditor for sustainable tourism. It does not purport to be a ‘verified’ third-party assessment.

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Cat Ba Eco-Lodge

Cat Ba Eco-Lodge, Vietnam

Located 9 km away from Cat Ba mass tourism town and in the middle of Cat Ba Biosphere reserve, on the south-eastern edge of Ha Long Bay in Northern Vietnam, Cat Ba Ecolodge offers truly natural holidays. The EcoLodge was created by businessman Mr Hung, Nguyen Manh in 2010 to cater to International visitors who want to comfortably relax while experiencing the incredible natural offerings of Halong Bay. In this interview, Managing Director – Kenny Le Manh provides more information about the Eco-Lodge as well as the best practices it follows.

Cat Ba was built back in 2010. How did it come about? What was the motivation to set it up? Cat Ba Eco-Lodge was established with the purpose of establishing a new brand of service in the tourism accommodation sector in Cat Ba island. Our goal is to focus on ecotourism that profits the local community and to preserve the pureness of the environment, which is very popular in the Western countries. We are also targeting the potential market in Vietnam in general and Cat Ba island in particular.

As an eco-lodge, Cat Ba core philosophy is based on responsible tourism. What are the key features of this philosophy? What makes it ecologically friendly? Cat Ba Eco-Lodge is set on 7 hectares, nestled in dramatic forested hills 13 km from Cat Ba Town. The road ends at our lodge, so there is no noise or traffic pollution – It is located in the middle of Cat Ba Biosphere reserve, offering a truly natural environment on the stay route (9km away)

– The Lodge is comprised of four beautiful wood stilt houses with fantastic natural common areas.

Cat Ba Eco-Lodge

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

All the water at the lodge comes from a natural stream near by. The water is then recycled and used in our garden.

- The wooden lodge (main buildings) used the natural material of the old building that we bought from local people in Vietnam. It was designed and constructed with comfort in mind and it is immaculately maintained. - Our lodge boasts one of the best restaurants on Cat Ba island. Most of the food you eat travels less than 2 miles to get here! - There are a number of trekking trails leaving from the lodge’s front door. We maintain the trails and will provide guests with maps. Many trails are well marked and include ecological, geological and cultural markers to guide and educate the group. We are trying to set a positive example for eco-tourism in Vietnam and all of Asia. The key features of our sustainable tourism philosophy include:

 Energy efficient hotel operational procedures  Local food - most comes from less than 2 km away  Local water - water is only pumped 100 meters  Low vehicle usage – daily trip to town picks up guests and supplies  We are also a working orchard  No impact and positive impact activities like bike riding, trekking and tree planting  We support the Cat Ba Langur Conservation Project  Recycling and composting of rubbish  Promoting environmental awareness and wilderness appreciation.

Are any measures taken to monitor performance and progress in meeting sustainability targets (environmental, socio-cultural and economic)?

Currently we do not follow a particular detailed plan, however we are planning to implement a system for measuring our performance at Cat Ba Eco-lodge.

Do you provide Environmental Education & Training to staff? Do you have an Environmental and Respectful Code of Conduct for guests? Please provide some details. The majority of our staff comes from Cat Ba island where they have been fishermen for generations. Many of them have not even finished high school, so the best way to impart education about the environment and sustainability is by doing: we encourage them to take part in activities like: tree planting, rubbish cleaning campaigns around the village, recycling and composting, etc.

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Cat Ba Eco-Lodge

We provide jobs to the local community. We train them – they improve their language and professional skills.

doing: we encourage them to take part in activities like: tree planting, rubbish cleaning campaigns around the village, recycling and composting, etc.

We train them – they improve their language and professional skills. The meat, fish and vegetables are all bought from the local people.

We do not have a particular “Respectful Code of Conduct” for guests, however we do have a slogan:

What activities do you offer your guests? How do you ensure these activities have no impact or positive impact on the local environment?

Take nothing but your memories Kill nothing but your time Leave nothing but your smiles

What measurable impact has Cat Ba made on the local environment and the community, in which it operates? How do you increase local engagement to create positive impact? We provide jobs to the local community.

There are a number of no impact or positive impact activities available at the Eco-Lodge including: • Free Tree Planting Activity • Relax in a hammock • Enjoy our incredible restaurant • Learn about Cat Ba Island • Attend free cooking classes • Visit Suoi Goi Spring, Cat Ba's main fresh water spring and the water source for most of the island.

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Do yoga at our outdoor recreation area, or follow a yoga DVD in the lounge, or in the privacy of your room Go on hiking trips - there are two main hiking opportunities in Cat Ba National Park

There are a wide variety of fun and exciting tours around Cat Ba Island. We set our guests up with the best operators for each type of tour. For example, we offer a kayaking day trip to Lan Ha Bay every day from our lodge. This trip focuses on small groups (min 2, max 6 people) in order to make sure our guests have more contact with locals and nature. The ride on the local fishing boat (water taxi) around the bay to visit the floating fish farm and secluded beaches is one of the highlights.

Cat Ba Eco-Lodge

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Cooking classes are held at the lodge. Only local ingredients are used.

Please provide some insights into your customers’ profile. Where do they come from and what motivates them to visit Cat Ba Eco-Lodge and use your services? The majority of our clients come from England, France, Germany and Japan and are over 35 years old. We are listed in Lonely Planet Guide Book and this is the way our customers know about us, as we are being recommended. After visiting our website, they are impressed with our philosophy and decide to visit Cat Ba Eco-Lodge.

What trends do you see for the travel and tourism industry in the future? Do you see a growing interest in eco-friendly travel? Eco-friendly travel is a new definition in Vietnam and Cat Ba island has good potential as a sustainable tourism destination. I believe there will be growing interest in eco-friendly travel in the coming years. That is the future trend.

What are the long term benefits that hotel and lodge operators

can expect from being involved in sustainable business practices that include environmental, sociocultural and economic aspects? The very future of tourism, destinations and service providers depends on sustainability. As hotel and lodge operators, it is in our interest to play our part in the supply chain. Over time, our vision is to lead the efforts to create and maintain a good, strong ‘Green Label’ of eco-lodges in Vietnam. I would like to end with a thoughtful message from Nico Visser, a prominent international nature conservationist and a leading international authority in the field of sustainable tourism development: “I count on you as ambassadors for sustainable tourism and as responsible individual tourists to give tourism and the destinations the future they deserve” – Nico Visser (Promoter of the concept “destination for generations”)

Cat Ba Eco-Lodge was awarded with a certificate by World Natural Biosphere Reserve for Cat Ba’s support of and sponsorship to Cat Ba island and its Biosphere Reserve.

Point of View

Tourism Can Help Reduce Pressures of Urbanization Our contributing writer for the column Point of View is Gautam Sen Gupta, Director of Market Vision and Promoter of GRAS Academy, a Vocational Education & Training Institute, focussed on skills development among the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) youth population in India. He is of the opinion that the tourism industry can not only help reduce the pressures of urbanization in developing countries like India by developing and offering semi-urban and rural based tourism products to holiday seekers, but it also has the ability to hold back some of the potential migrants to urban cities, by enhancing livelihoods through job creation in the local tourism industry.

With growing urbanisation in India, an estimated 843 million people will live in cities across the country by 2050 according to a 2012 report by industry chamber Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and realty consultant Jones Lang LaSalle. This is as much as the combined populations of present day USA, Brazil, Russia, Japan and Germany! According to this report, urbanisation in India is growing at the fastest rate among the BRIC nations, putting massive pressure on its cities. In large part this is led by the belief that opportunities for improved livelihoods lie in the urban centres, leading to ongoing population migration. In turn, this migration is putting massive pressure on the urban centres, needing to expand infrastructure, civic amenities and services. This adds an additional dimension to the critical need in India for overall development of infrastructure across the country, in terms of roads,.

bridges, airports, railways, power, water etc, in order that it may maintain its economic growth momentum. This problem is not India’s alone. According to the United Nations report: World Urbanization Prospects (The 2011 Revision), by the middle of the 21st century, the global urban population will almost double, increasing from approximately 3.4 billion in 2009 to 6.4 billion in 2050. Almost all urban population growth in the next 30 years will occur in cities of developing countries. Between 1995 and 2005, the urban population of developing countries grew by an average of 1.2 million people per week, or around 165,000 people daily. By the middle of the 21st century, it is estimated that the urban population of these countries will nearly double, increasing from 2.7 billion in 2011 to

almost 5.2 billion in 2050. Addressing population pressures requires cooperation and strategic decision-making across several levels of government—this is not always quick to emerge. One major factor holding back progress is that managing population pressure is also an environmental issue, in addition to requiring coordinated management of a range of social issues including health, transport, energy and housing infrastructure. The tourism industry can take away some of this pressure on urban centres by producing and offering leisure travellers the option of more destinations in ‘off-the-beaten-track’ locales. This could start with smaller towns and lead on to rural and semirural settings. There is growing interest in such tourism activity, as travellers explore relaxation holidays in rural

Point of View

milieu, nature study in outdoor settings including bird watching and photography, small town or village touring, visits to local agricultural or industrial/crafts enterprises. Tourism has the potential to support good management of such areas if incentives and regulations support reinvestment of some revenue in the environment. Most importantly, such tourism enterprises have the ability to hold back some of the potential migrants to urban centres, by enhancing livelihoods through job creation in the local tourism industry. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has estimated that in 2011, 98 million people were directly employed in the travel & tourism sector worldwide, many times more than automotive manufacturing, the global chemicals industry, global mining industry, global communications industry, global financial services

industry; and, that taking indirect and induced employment into account, the sector sustained 255 million jobs in 2011, 1 in 12 of all jobs in the world. A notable factor is that a large proportion of these jobs are for women. The UN World Tourism Organization (2004) has identified seven ways in which spending associated with tourism can reach the poor:  Employment of the poor in tourism enterprises  Supply of goods and services to tourism enterprises by the poor, or by enterprises employing the poor  Direct sales of goods and services to visitors by the poor (indirect economy)  Establishment and running of tourism enterprises by the poor  Taxes or levies on tourism revenues or profits with proceeds benefitting the poor  Voluntary giving of resources (goods, money, time) by tourists and enterprises in ways which

benefit the poor  Investment in infrastructure which provides livelihood benefits to the poor Critical to this process is the availability of skilled workers in small towns, semirural and rural settings, which can serve and run touristic enterprises, obviating the need to travel to urban centres to find jobs. Sector specific skills would need to be available in the tourism trade – hotel employees at various levels, tour guides; others would be in indirect jobs such as craftsmen, transportation, traders, fisheries etc. Jobs at this level would contribute greatly towards an important challenge for developing economies - to ensure inclusiveness through growth on different levels across its socioeconomic strata. In large part, such inclusiveness can be assured through an alternate stream of education vocational education and training (VET)

Point of View

At the bottom of the pyramid where VET has maximum impact and benefit, a significant constraint is that students are unable to pay fees that could allow a VET player to develop a viable business model.

leading to employment. VET has found an important place in the education landscape of many countries worldwide, both developed and emerging, but not quite yet in developing economies such as India. There are many challenges to this process, in the case of India: • VET is not seen as an alternative to higher education, and a strongly prevalent perception is that vocational education is for the “second-class” citizen, not preferred and lacking dignity. Historically, ‘getting skilled’ for a specific trade has been viewed in India as being inferior to gaining academic knowledge. •

The challenge, therefore, is in student capture. Youth has shown disinclination to pay to be trained in a vocational trade leading to a blue collar job.

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Upon completion of training, a robust assessment process is necessary to ensure valid and credible certification. This is lacking and hence the reliability of assessment is always under question.

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Training infrastructure is a critical input for the efficacy of any training program. Training organizations must have good infrastructure, and standardization is desirable. Good training institute infrastructure is lacking in India, for the most part.

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At the bottom of the pyramid where VET has maximum impact and benefit, as would be the case in small town and semi-rural/rural settings, a significant constraint is that students are unable to pay fees that could allow a VET player to develop a viable business model.

In recent years, a number of private players in India, such as our GRAS Academy, have striven to develop realistic business models, with some students paying their own way, some sponsored by government or other agencies, and some sponsored by industry.

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The lack of quality trainers in the skills training arena is well documented in the Indian context. This continues to be a huge challenge. A career as a trainer is not seen as one that provides commensurate financial returns.

This appears to be a viable business model. In this manner, GRAS has trained a number of youth for jobs in the hospitality sector, teaching them skills required for the job (such as food and beverage service, front office assistant, other front-of-the-house jobs) combined

Point of View

with soft skills that are an essential requirement for working in organizations. These youth have been placed in jobs with regional hotels and restaurant chains in neighbouring large towns as that is where the jobs are. This creates social strains, and it is not certain that the youth will stay for long periods in these jobs, living alone, away from family and friends. The ideal situation would be if these youth could be placed in jobs in their home locations, whether small town or semi-rural/rural setting. There would then be the benefit of continuing to stay at home while earning a livelihood, with a job utilizing learned skills. It would obviate the need to migrate to the larger towns nearby for a job, in turn easing population pressure in those towns. Over time, it is even conceivable that youth from these towns would migrate to tourism jobs in semi-rural/rural settings, if such jobs were made available, attracted by the potential of higher savings.

Certainly, a case can be made for tourism to helping reduce pressures of urbanization in developing countries like India. Gautam Sen Gupta is Co-Promoter of GRAS Education & Training Services Pvt. Ltd. (operating under the brand name GRAS Academy), headquartered in Noida, India. It operates over 40 vocational training centres in the country providing training and employment opportunities to thousands of unemployed youth each year. Gautam is Director of Market Vision research & consulting, and has worked for nearly two decades in the hospitality industry in India and the Middle East. He is an Engineer and an MBA. www.grasacademy.in

Market Intelligence

The 10 YFP Global Survey on Sustainable Tourism

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as 10YFP Secretariat and the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) conducted a Global Survey on Sustainable Tourism in the period of three months – August to October.

regions, including Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Asia Pacific were found to be as follows:

The participation rate was outstanding, with over 370 responses from tourism stakeholders,representing Governments (40%), Businesses (30%), NGOs (20%), and other stakeholders from all regions.

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Lack of an integrated approach to tourism planning and investment

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SMEs have limited access and marketing capacity

The 92nd Session of the OECD Tourism Committee was held in Paris, on 1st and 2nd October 2013, where the preliminary findings were presented and most recently at the UN Expert Group Meeting on Ecotourism, Poverty Reduction and Environmental Protection (29-30 October 2013, New York).

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Sustainable products and services are not promoted at the destination

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Lack of capacity in public sector

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Lack of monitoring and evaluation policy/mandate for evaluation tourism impacts

The main barriers to sustainable tourism cited as “Underlying Causes” for all

The priorities for key potential working areas for the Global Programme in these regions may include:

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Low levels of understanding of “sustainable tourism” and the business case

• • • •

Tourism/ Destination Planning Tourism Investment Tourism Monitoring and Evaluation Tourism Operations and Management

A stocktaking exercise has also been commissioned by UNEP that seeks information on existing data/sources of information needed as a baseline for consideration, as well as relevant UN resolutions and programmes. A proposal has been planned for the 10YFP sustainable tourism programme and the stocktaking exercise, consultations and the survey will support its’ development and its practical implementation and delivery mechanisms globally and regionally.

Source: http://www.unep.org/10yfp/Programmes/ProgrammeConsultationandCurrentStatus/Sustainabletourismincludingecotourism/tabid/106269/languag e/en-US/Default.aspx

Green Showcase Rainbow Lodge

Green Showcase

Rainbow Lodge is an ecolodge in the South Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia. Set in jungle surroundings with a riverside location, Rainbow Lodge is a great place to relax or get active, with trekking or kayaking.

Since the opening of Rainbow Lodge Janet has achieved a number of great things, including providing a litter scheme at Tatai Waterfalls, work at Tatai school, campaigning against the sand dredging while providing a wonderful experience for guests at Rainbow Lodge.

Rainbow Lodge was opened on 1st January 2008 by Ms Janet, who was involved in voluntary work for 10 weeks in Koh Kongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Botum Sakor national park. She was fascinated by the flora and fauna of the area and she was sure

that other people would like to get close to nature too but there were not many opportunities in Cambodia, where tourism is booming but facilities were a long way behind.

Rainbow Lodge has 7 bungalows. There is a river frontage ideal for relaxing, swimming or kayaking. Rainbow Lodge land has been allowed to go back to nature, and is now attracting quite a variety of wildlife. The Lodge is also surrounded by jungle and guided treks to stunning destinations are run on a regular basis.

Green Showcase

Responsible Tourism Practices Power Rainbow Lodge relies on solar power for its electricity. This energy efficient system provides power for fans, lights, sockets and water pumps. Low wattage light bulbs are used throughout the lodge and rechargeable torches and solar lamps are also utilized. Walkways and bungalow balconies are lit with Moonlights from Kamworks. Produce Most of the produce is purchased at the market in Koh Kong, ensuring freshness and quality. Great emphasis is placed on buying Cambodian products where possible, rather than imported goods, thus reducing the environmental impact of transportation and supporting the local economy. Some food, especially fruits, are purchased in Tatai village itself, to support local growers. Similarly, Cambodian grown and made peanut butter, Koh Kong honey and pepper from Kurata Pepper are purchased to support local initiatives and to provide great fresh flavours to the guests.

All sand used in the construction of Rainbow Lodge has been sourced locally from Tatai and the reed mats used on the roofs from neighbouring province Kompong Speu.

The Lodge also supports local businesses such as ‘funky junk’ who make floor cushions out of plastic bags – these are provided in the bungalows.

Recycling The Lodge adopts a reduce, reuse and recycle policy throughout. For example:  All glass, cans, cardboard and any old metal are recycled. All degradable waste is disposed of on the Rainbow Lodge site but some is used to feed local pigs.  A filtered rainwater system (using Rabbit Filters) is provided for drinking water to reduce the number of plastic bottles used and transported.  Use of plastic bags is kept to a minimum and bags are washed and reused.  Where possible use is made of bamboo and small amounts of wood from the Lodge’s own land for minor repairs.  Guests are encouraged to donate and reuse plastic bags, which are made available in each bungalow.

http://www.rainbowlodgecambodia.com/

Green Showcase

Fun at the jetty at Rainbow Lodge

A new activity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; climbing and abseiling with a qualified climbing instructor at Rainbow Lodge

Tonsai water filters provided for the local community in Tatai through the kind donations of guests at the Rainbow Lodge

Guests visit the school in Tatai

Guided kayaking activity on the Tatai river

Tatai Waterfall, a natural spa and popular with guests of all nationalities

Green Business Directory

Business Directory

Urbn Hotel 183 Jiaozhou Road (near Beijing West Road), Jing’an District Shanghai 200040, China Tel:+8621 5153 4600 E-mail: reservation@urbnhotels.com Web: http://www.urbnhotels.com/ URBN Hotel Shanghai is a boutique hotel, built by the Shanghai-based hotel chain URBN Hotels & Resorts whose mission is to develop and operate innovative, stylish hotels that combine locally sourced and recycled materials with modern architecture and design to create contemporary spaces inspired by China’s past, present and future.

El Nido Resorts 18/F BA Lepanto Building 8747 Paseo de Roxas Street, Salcedo Village 1226 Makati City, Philippines Tel: +63 2 902 5900 Email: holiday@elnidoresorts.com Web: http://www.elnidoresorts.com El Nido Resorts is a group of eco-resorts located in the El Nido-Taytay municipalities in northern Palawan, Philippines. The resorts offer genuine, local hospitality and unique and enriching experiences amidst the beautiful natural landscape.

The Frangipani Langkawi P.O. Box 138. Jalan Teluk Baru Pantai Tengah, Mukim Kedawang 07100 Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. Tel: (604) 952 0000 Email: rsvn@frangipanilangkawi.com Web: http://www.frangipanilangkawi.com/ The Frangipani Langkawi is a four-star beachside resort that opened in 2006 along one of Langkawi’s best beaches, Pantai Tengah. It is the first resort in Langkawi to implement Green practices to preserve the environment.

Business Directory

Dwarka Eco Beach Resort Ambelim Beach, Mattimol, Cola Beach Canacona 403524, India Tel: +91 9823377025 E-mail: dwarkagoa@gmail.com Web: http://dwarkagoa.com Ten beautiful, all natural, medieval thatched cottages, with contemporary interiors, are set around a fresh water lagoon with each overlooking the Arabian sea and the lagoon, and beneath the rustling of hundreds of palm trees, which are on different levels, on several acres of land.

Ace the Himalaya G.P.O Box 1280, A- One Business Complex, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: +977 1 4423719, 4423720 Email: info@acethehimalaya.com Web: http://www.acethehimalaya.com Ace the Himalaya specializes in hiking, trekking, mountaineering, rafting, wildlife safaris, mountain biking, cultural tours, and specialty itineraries (honeymoon, photography, festivals, voluntourism and student). Ace offers both, pre-planned itineraries and custom travel planning services.

Eco Koh Tao Crystal Dive Resort Padi Career Development Center Mae Haad, Koh Tao, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 77 456106 Email: info@crystaldive.com Web: http://www.ecokohtao.com Koh Tao, Thailand is at the forefront of scuba diving in South East Asia, with thousands of people visiting this island paradise every year to take advantage of its world famous dive sites. Eco Koh Tao specialises in preparing and instructing divers and dive professionals emphasising the eco-diving aspects of marine conservation.

Business Directory

Dar HI Quartier Ezzaouia Naftah 2240, Tunisia Tel:+216 76 432 779 E-mail: darhi@dar-hi.net Web: http://www.dar-hi.net Dar HI is a design eco-retreat or eco-lodge located in the historical centre of Naftah town, in the South of Tunisia. The Dar Hi resort is laid out like a village and features ochre-coloured structures on pilars, enclosed by an exterior wall.

Polwaththa Eco Lodges 69/1 Wepathana, Gomagoda 20184 Digana, Kandy District, Sri Lanka Tel: +94 721 751951 Email: info@polwaththa-ecolodges.com Web: http://www.polwaththa-ecolodges.com Polwaththa is a unique and authentic experience that offers the best of traditional Sri Lankan village culture. The eco-lodge is surrounded by coconut trees and a wide variety of other trees providing lush greenery round the year.

Our Native Village Hessarghatta P.O.Box 8802, Bangalore â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 560 088, India Tel: +91 80 41140909 Email: info@ournativevillage.com Web: http://www.ournativevillage.com Our Native Village is an eco-retreat for holistic health near Bangalore city in India. It was planned as a 100% eco-retreat, with commitment to sustainability in every facet of its acitivity. Its Responsible Tourism Policy encompasses environmental, social, cultural and economic aspects, rooted in a strong ethical foundation.

Business Directory

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Ace the Himalaya

G.P.O Box 1280, A- One Business Complex, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: +977 1 4423719, 4423720 Email: info@acethehimalaya.com Web: http://www.acethehimalaya.com Ace the Himalaya specializes in hiking, trekking, mountaineering, rafting, wildlife safaris, mountain biking, cultural tours, and specialty itineraries (honeymoon, photography, festivals, voluntourism and student). Ace offers both, pre-planned itineraries and custom travel planning services.

Visit the Resources section on the SOST website: www.sostinternational.com or write to us:

Eco Koh Tao

info@sostinternational.com

Crystal Dive Resort Padi Career Development Center Mae Haad, Koh Tao, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 77 456106 Email: info@crystaldive.com Web: http://www.ecokohtao.com

Koh Tao, Thailand is at the forefront of scuba diving in South East Asia, with thousands of people visiting this island paradise every year to take advantage of its world famous dive sites. Eco Koh Tao specialises in preparing and instructing divers and dive professionals emphasising the eco-diving aspects of marine conservation.

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