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

Issue 10 â&#x2014;? December 2013 ISSN 2227-4065

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Feynan Ecolodge, Jordan

Feature: WTM World Responsible Tourism Highlights

Feature: The Blue Yonder Pioneering Projects and Travel Experiences

Point of View: A New United Front for Sustainable Tourism

Contents

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

19 32

SOST TEAM M. Ivanova B. Thomas J. Vaz

Contents

SOST December 2013 ABOUT SOST

04 Editorial 05 Feedback:

26 Point of View: A New United Front for Sustainable Tourism

SOST gets feedback from around the world

30 Market Intelligence:

06 News & Events:

Green Cities of Asia & Africa

SOST shares news and updates on its activities

32 Green Showcase:

08 Feature:

South Africa Photography Tours

WTM World Responsible Tourism Day

36 Business Directory

13 Feature:

Listing of Eco-businesses

The Blue Yonder

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism: In the Spotlight:

Feynan Ecolodge, Jordan

Spotlight 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 on: www.sostinternational.com

39 Market Vision: - Travel & Tourism Research & Consulting - Sustainable Travel Development â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Advisory Services

Market Vision Research & Consulting Services FZ-LLC P.O. Box 32394, Dubai, UAE Tel: +9714-3911241 Fax: +9714-3911245 www.market-vision.com

SOST WISHES ITS READERS A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

Editorial

It’s the end of yet another year, that seems to have gone very fast! Our journey has been very interesting and exciting. All of us at SOST sincerely thank all the contributors, subscribers, readers and supporters who have encouraged us along the way.

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’.

After attending ITB Asia in Singapore in October 2013, where we presented the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards to the winners, SOST went to WTM London in November 2013. Our feature on the Responsible Tourism program at the event tells you about the key topics covered in the program and the World Responsible Tourism Award winners. Our feature on The Blue Yonder, that offers Responsible Holidays, showcases their work in India bringing together pioneering projects and travel experiences. In our Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism feature, we showcases Feynan Ecolodge, an environmentally friendly lodge located at the South-Western edge of the Dana Biosphere Reserve in Jordan. Our contributing writer for the column Point of View is Megan Epler Wood, a Core Instructor for the graduate school for Sustainability and Environmental Management at Harvard University Extension. She leads an international consulting practice EplerWood International. Megan builds the case for a definition for Sustainable Tourism that speaks to the market, includes the best ideas from the different schools of thought, and is representative of decades of work in this area. In Green Showcase, you will read about photography tours in South Africa led by two passionate photographers who believe in Responsible Tourism. Last but not the least, Green Cities of Asia and Africa are presented in Market Intelligence. 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 New Year & 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

SOST announces the launch of its Business Directory which will accept registrations from eco-tourism businesses and tourism experts. Please visit the Resources Section on the SOST website to list your business in the specific category. Also do subscribe to SOST on the website, if you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t already.

As media partner for the 2013 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards (WARTA), SOST attended ITB Asia in Singapore, October 23-25, 2013, where the Awards were announced .

SOST was invited to give away the Awards to the winners.

SOST Managing Editor led a workshop on the topic Impact Of Sustainability Initiatives On Customer Choice, as part of the Responsible Tourism Clinic at ITB Asia. SOST October issue DVDs were distributed to exhibitors and delegates at ITB Asia.

World Travel Market (WTM), the leading international business-to-business event for the travel and tourism industry, is held annually in London, UK. The 2013 edition was held between November 4 to 7 at the ExCel, with over 5000 exhibitors, representing 184 countries. SOST attended the event which includes a special focus on Responsible Tourism.

SOST Managing Editor spoke on Sustainability Tourism Certification and its Impact on Customer Choice, as part of the Responsible Tourism Speakerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner series. SOST attended the Responsible Tourism Awards function and the Networking evening. Details in the WTM Responsible Tourism feature in this issue.

News & Events

US$215 million for ecotourism project A co-joint project between Johor and Malacca is set to begin in 2014 with duration of two years. It will include coastal and river development. The project involves development of a number of seafood restaurants as well as handicraft stores, available to tourists visiting the fishing villages Kesang Laut and Gersik in Muar, and Sungai Rambai in Malacca. Existing jetties for fishermen along Sungai Muar will also be upgraded for tourists.

Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, located in the Terai area of Bahraich district, in Uttar Pradesh, India. It was established in 1976 and covers an area of 400 kilometres. In 2012 Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary was converted to an eco-tourism centre. The panoramic view of nature, the rare wild life as well as special tourist packages and offers will largely increase the demand for eco-tourism in the area. New facilities would be developed on top of the handicraft products from Tharu community available for purchase.

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) are to work together in order to promote sustainable tourism and protect heritage sites. Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU), the two agencies will consolidate efforts on national, regional and global initiatives in the area of sustainable tourism. The MoU will also address the

Sungai Muar has a panoramic view which would attract many eco-tourists after the development. The availability of fireflies, seafood, orchards, homestays and aqua culture would also fascinate the coming tourist and anglers. Local anglers will also benefit from the project. Due to the new restaurant openings, the demands for their seafood catch will increase. There is a plan to build a resort in Kesang Laut that would attract a large number of tourists, wanting to experience a “seafood paradise”.

Visitors will have to option to use boats as means of transportation between Sungai Rambai and Gersik, where local food can also be sold, in order to help the local community. The trip from Malacca to Muar is estimated to take four to five hours. A homestay program will be developed in Gersik for tourists that would like to experience the peaceful, relaxed and simple life in the area. They will be able to return to Malacca on a boat next day. Source: http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/rm700-millionfor-eco-tourism-1.394064

Katamiaghat is managed along with the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve by the government. The forest has a significant role in the survival of a number of endangered and critically endangered species, including gharial, tiger, rhino, Gangetic dolphin, swamp deer, hispid hare, white-backed and long-billed vultures.

wetlands and baghars.

The Katarniaghat Forests connect the tiger habitats of Dudhwa and Kishanpur in India and the Bardia National Park in Nepal. In Girwa River, tourists can see gharials, muggers and crocodiles, due to the fact that these animals live near

In mid-November, tourist buses started operating every Saturday and Sunday. School and college trips and visits are also being encouraged.

safeguarding of natural and cultural heritage. The aims of the MoU between the two will be achieved through:

networking of sustainable tourism initiatives and activities in biosphere reserves

 The implementation of the UNESCO World Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Programme  The development of transnational tourism initiatives to promote and protect the shared heritage of the Silk Roads Heritage Corridors  The identification, development and

 The promotion of sustainable tourism through United Nations partnerships and initiatives, such as the United Nations Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD) and the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism (GPST).

The snake family of Katarniaghat is represented by species such as banded krait, Burmese rock python and yellow speckled wolf-snake. Recently new species were found in the sanctuary - the paradise flying snake and a rare red coral kukri snake.

Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-1101/allahabad/43592000_1_dudhwa-tiger-reserve-oligodonkheriensis-dudhwa-national-park

Source: http://www2.unwto.org/en/press-release/2013-1128/unwto-and-unesco-join-hands-sustainable-tourismpromotion

Feature

WTM WRTD

WTM Responsible Tourism Highlights The World Travel Market (WTM) London’s Responsible Tourism Programme is an annual feature, started six years ago. 6 November was the WTM World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD) 2013, which was marked not only at the WTM, but around the world with special events, communications and consumer promotions, demonstrating the industry’s determination to make a real difference. This year’s responsible tourism programme focussed on five key issues, facing not just the travel and tourism industry, but businesses and countries globally: water scarcity, child protection, climate change, accessible tourism and volunteering.

WTM WRTD

Child Protection In 2011 the issue of internal trafficking and orphanage tourism was raised during one of the panels. Last year the scale of the problem: trafficking, orphanages and the challenges which arise among the families travelling outbound was looked at. This year four panellists talking about what they are doing to tackle the challenges.

Climate Change Climate change remains a major challenge for the industry. Last year there was a debate on whether the industry was doing enough to tackle its carbon emissions, and the audience clearly felt that it was not. This year’s discussion focussed on issues surrounding the decarbonisation of flight.

Accessible Tourism This year’s panel looked at what could be done by the industry to take responsibility for providing a welcoming and accessible service for people with disabilities and offered practical solutions for businesses. Tourism should be equally enjoyed by all segments of society, as per the UNWTO

Feature

Global Code of Ethics for Tourism.

Travel & Tourism and Carbon Pollution.

Water

WTM had invited three leaders in the travel and tourism industry to join the round table discussion with Stephen Sackur of Hard Talk fame to discuss how the industry can best address the challenges of climate change.

Following the United Nations declaration of 2013 as the International Year of Water Cooperation, WTM brought together a panel to consider whether the industry is achieving appropriate reductions in water consumption without Government intervention. Volunteering This year’s debate focussed on what the industry can do to improve the experience for the volunteers and to ensure that the communities with whom the volunteers work benefit.

How can it adjust to changes in climate taking place around the world? How can it make a significant contribution to reducing carbon pollution?

Other topics included:  Responsible Tourism & Heritage  Successful business models in local communities  Responsible Tourism certification  Wildlife protection and conservation

The panel included: • Gerald Lawless, President and Group Chief Executive Officer, Jumeirah Group • Johan Lundgren, Deputy Chief Executive TUI Travel PLC • Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Tourism in the Cabinet of South Africa, and former Minister of Environment

World Responsible Tourism Day The Official WTM Responsible Tourism Opening Ceremony was held on November 6, with a Round Table on

This was followed by the World Responsible Tourism Awards ceremony and the WTM World Responsible Tourism Networking Reception

Feature

WTM WRTD

World Responsible Tourism Award Winners 2013 Winners Overall Winner: TUI Nederland, the Netherlands Best for Responsible Wildlife Experiences Nam Nern Night Safari, Lao PDR Best for Water Conservation Chepu Adventures EcoLodge, Chiloe island in Patagonia World Responsible Tourism Awards The Responsible Tourism Awards turned 10 this year, and have gone truly global with a new name: the World Responsible Tourism Awards. This year only, there were 8 new categories chosen to reflect the most hotly debated issues in responsible tourism today. The Awards celebrate the shining stars of responsible tourism - those ventures around the world that make positive contributions to nature and heritage conservation, and to the economies of local communities. Travellers and the industry chose the nominees and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what makes these Awards unique.

Best for the Local Economy Village Ways, India & Ethiopia Best for Responsible Tourism Campaigning people and places, UK Best Destination for Responsible Tourism Bonito, Brazil Best for Child Protection TUI Nederland, the Netherlands Best Photography for Responsible Tourism No winner (3 Highly Commended) People's Choice Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, Chile

WTM WRTD

Feature

SOST Managing Editor speaking at WTM London Speakers Corner Thirteen industry professionals took the challenge at WTM Speakers’ Corner to speak out on responsible tourism. Over Tuesday and Wednesday 6 and 7 November, as part of the WTM World Responsible Tourism Day program, sponsored by BBC World News, they spoke on the exhibition floor about their passion, their own responsible tourism activity, explored new ideas and introduced opinions on ethical trends. SOST Managing Editor Kumud Sengupta spoke about ‘Responsible Business Practices and Eco-Certification - Impact on Customer Choice Behaviour.’ Her opinion, based on consumer research, was that despite lack of sufficient awareness and recognition of individual certification brands, nearly one-half (47%) of consumers are influenced in their choice of travel company if its sustainability initiatives are visible (on the website, in brochures, advertising) and endorsed by an independent third party.

Choice of travel company

18% 35%

Sustainability initiatives visible Sustainability initiatives visible + endorsed Makes no difference

47%

More information: http://www.wtmresponsibletourism.com Images: WTM Online Picture Library

The Blue Yonder

Feature

The Blue Yonder

Pioneering Projects and Travel Experiences While practising Responsible Tourism, The Blue Yonder has been building partnerships across the world to "create better places for people to live in and visit". Gopinath Pariyal, Founder, The Blue Yonder

The Blue Yonder (TBY) has been offering Responsible Holidays since early 2004 in India. An initiative that was set up to bring in attention of the world into a sadly depleted River Nila (Bharatapuzha) in central Kerala is now the flag-bearer of the Responsible Tourism movement in the country.

Based in the city of Bangalore, TBY now offers unique holiday experiences in different states of India - Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Rajasthan, Kerala and Karnataka. Covering three primary areas of People, Culture and Wilderness, its holidays are designed in a way that it is economically, socially and environmentally just. While practising Responsible Tourism, TBY has been building partnerships across the world to "create better places for people to live in and visit".

Feature

The Blue Yonder

The programmes must not degenerate to a "show" and must thus be accompanied and explained. They cannot be shortened and must remain in their "environment". The Beginning The Blue Yonder evolved out of the Nila Foundation, a not for profit organisation founded by Gopinath Parayil in 2004. While looking for financial resources to fund the Nila Foundation, he came up with the idea of The Blue Yonder (TBY). ‘Idea was to be less dependent on external funding, but create the wealth ourselves so that the initiative becomes sustainable and not controlled and dictated by external groups or funding agencies,’ says Gopinath. “The biggest challenge in front of us was that most part of the River Nila was in a decayed state. So, how would a traveller be invited to come and visit our region?”’, says Gopinath. The involvement of the local people was felt to be critical to begin any efforts at revival. Hence, from inception, TBY pursued the objective of enabling a joint tourism development agenda with the support of the local population. The people decide for themselves, or are at least involved in the decisions on how tourism should look like to be accepted by them.

TBY’s focus wasn't just about the water in the river, it was about the people, culture, heritage, lifestyle, livelihood and their future, where it was trying to communicate to the local communities about the relevance of the river in their day to day life by creating meaningful connection.

orientation. Tourists must not determine and dominate the lives of local people.

The Tourism Concept

 For the tourist, not everything is available at all times. Tourists must use the rhythm of life of their hosts as guidance. Dance and music programmes can only be presented in the evenings, as the members of the groups work during the day.

The concept was very simple. The staff of TBY started to discuss with the local population the rich cultural heritage in the area where the river flows, and to discuss their own lifestyle, to increase the awareness of it and to (re-)activate it. In order to become attractive for tourism, the first thing was to rehabilitate people's own culture and to re-develop regional and local traditions. Based on the discussions and joint consensus, a TBY catalogue of demands was developed:  The way of living practiced by local people should remain as it is. Local people are not geared to the ideas and requests of the tourists, but the tourists, as visitors, use local lifestyles as their

 Since there are many vegetarians in all the villages, it was also decided in advance to ask tourists not to bring any meat to the villages. Alcohol, too, is usually unwanted.

 The programmes must not degenerate to a "show" and must thus be accompanied and explained. They cannot be shortened and must remain in their "environment". Programmes in hotels "during dinner" are unthinkable, and tourists must accept that.  Potters or craftsmen are not available at all times, as their activities depend on certain work processes. Therefore, individual itineraries need to be developed for each group.

The Blue Yonder

Feature

The aim was to offer meaningful travel experiences to travellers that help them understand the dynamics of local culture, heritage and its social existence. Focus was on the process rather than the product to enhance the value of the specific activity. The Tourism Programmes As part of creating better places for people to live and for visit, TBY created a sense of belonging among the locals by relating all the projects with the River. So it connected fishing communities, potters, folk artists, handloom textile weavers etc. whose livelihoods were directly or indirectly related to the river and its civilisation. Several initiatives were designed in consultation with local stake holders to create innovative travel experiences, such as: Musical Trail, Folk Expressions and Livelihood based initiatives ranging from Pottery Workshops, Bell Metal Workshops, Bamboo Weaving Workshops, Mat Making Workshops to Coconut Husk Workshops, and Thoni Cruise. The aim was to offer meaningful travel experiences to travellers that help them understand the dynamics of local culture,

heritage and its social existence. Focus was on the process rather than the product to enhance the value of the specific activity. Rather than showing the guests just a performance, TBY ensures that the guests understand the stakes in the performance by seeing the background work that leads to the performance. There are no 'guides', only interpreters whose job is to explain the background and the reasons why the people are in business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For example, without a story, without a background, when you buy a souvenir, from a potter, it's just a potter's fancy product. But when we relate the story of these people having migrated 650 years ago to our villages to settle on the banks of the river after having travelled more than 1000 kms, the tourists gain a deeper appreciation of the heritage and culture of the place, and are happy to buy the products.â&#x20AC;? explains Gopinath.

Musical Trail: In 2006, in partnership with Njeralathu Harigovindan, a talented Kerala musician, TBY set up an initiative called the Musical Trail that showcases the musical tradition on the banks of the River Nila. The success of the experiment led to the launch of a permanent campus for music which is being taught to all people irrespective of caste or religion and is a regular feature on TBY travellersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; itinerary. The initiative is currently providing a platform for more than 150 students, both girls and boys, to learn music on a regular basis. Seeing the success of the initiative, the Tourism Ministry granted a cash reward equivalent to about US$30,000 for the project in July 2012. Since its launch, the project has directly benefitted more than 250 students and 100s of musicians from the region.

The village potter at work

The Blue Yonder

Feature

The fishermen in the village are known for their unique and sustainable fishing methodologies.

Traditional Inland Fishing Methods

Measuring Success

Puthenvelikkara, a small village in Kerala, is on the banks of rivers Periyar, Chalakudy and Kottapuram lagoon. Until recently, the backwaters had the largest diversity of inland fish fauna in India. However, with growing pollution, sand mining and unsustainable fishing practices, there has been a significant dip in the fishery in the last two decades.

As all the project partners are bound by the common theme of ‘River Nila’, this has become the brand identity of the region and its people. The case study of River Nila has been featured in more than 30 International Conferences. Awards and recognitions like the Conde Nast Traveler’s World Savers Award 2007 finalist and being featured in its Eight Great Trips That Give Back have assisted the locals in building a cultural identity surrounding the brand ‘Nila’.

However, the traditional fishermen in the basin continue their traditions and mechanisms for regulating fishing. Fishermen in the village are known for their unique and sustainable fishing methodologies. Celebrated for catching Mullet in a specialized and strategic way, they use mesh nets that allow smaller varieties of fish to pass through the larger gaps in the net, delimit refuge areas, spawning and breeding areas. TBY developed a demonstration project in partnership with the locals - the only available demonstration of the fast disappearing inland fishing methods. Set in scenic waters, the Fisherman for a Day trip exposes travellers to the precision and art of the fisher folk who not only share their work but also their stories with them. The trip is combined with learning simple culinary skills of local food.

share them with others. About 300,000 international and six million Indian tourists visit Kerala each year. In 2012, TBY took care of more than 1,500 tourists. TBY finds a sufficient number of tourists looking for a "meet-thepeople" tour operator in a targeted manner. A further increase in the number of tourists to be taken care of is therefore very likely.

By creating a meaningful connection between visitors and the river through interpretations, local people feel more connected with the river as they are the ones giving the interpretation. Retelling stories, legends and songs about the area and explaining their significance, local people are themselves made aware of their culture and the need to conserve it. Most of the areas in Kerala where TBY started working were unknown in travel itineraries. ‘Modernisation’, migration, and life style changes had led to people growing up without knowing anything about their rich heritage. TBY has managed to instil a sense of pride among the local communities who have now begun to look for hidden treasures like legends and folklore so that they can

In 2011, TBY ventured into South Africa and in 2012, it promoted Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan based on the partnerships built over a decade.

Feature

The Blue Yonder

Gopinath answers a couple of questions from SOST:

Its nearly 10 years since you started TBY. What would you say have been the lessons learnt, challenges faced, and battles won? What have been the most satisfying/rewarding aspects of the journey thus far? . Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learnt that tourism is one of the most powerful tools for building compassionate communities. This applies to both hosts and travellers. If carefully managed and run responsibly, it is an ideal tool to achieve sustainable development. Our business is all about attitude. It is easy if the attitude for 'being the change' is inborn. However it doesn't have to be inborn, but could also be inculcated within individuals. Until they fall into the groove of 'consciousness', sustaining values at every level of practice is a challenge. Our business some times reminds me of the larger mankind. So much of goodness within, but so much of struggle to sustain it because of both external and internal pressures. Biggest challenge is to ensure that the values we adhere to and the practices we follow are one and not.

parallel roads. Positioning a company based on 'Responsibility' and 'Consciousness' in itself is the challenge. Lack of transparency and accountability when it comes to how even a wellmeaning Government functions has always been a challenge for The Blue Yonder. Seeing the impact our work is creating in local society, sometimes we are tempted to accept the invitation of various Governments in India or reach out directly to them assuming we can scale up the impact by partnering with a powerful mechanism. But, we are yet to learn how to work with Governments. In the early days when we thought we won't make it because of financial burdens, we came across a lot of people including some of our interns and students I taught in various universities in Europe who told us things like, "you have no right to fail, people like us built our dreams and chose different careers because you inspired us". In one way it was a huge recognition, on another side it was such a huge 'responsibility' on our shoulders. But such statements drove us to where we are now and we are happy about it. Somewhere we believed deep down that

The Blue Yonder will build a future of smiles and compassion in this world through our work. In moments of doubt, we recall messages from our guests such as "Thank you for the great trip. I found myself". This is all we need to bounce back and create even more innovative travel experiences.

The business model that you have adopted: do you believe this is scalable or adaptable by other traditional travel companies? What would be your message to the travel trade? Yes, very much. Though we took a while to consolidate our business model (more or less it was a conscious decision and some due to various external factors), it's easy now for us to scale up. The model is also very much replicable for others too, provided the right 'attitude' is there. Responsible Tourism can't be a CSR project of a main stream company. It has to be embedded in their thoughts, it has to be sort of the DNA of the organisation. Only then it's possible.

Feynan Ecolodge

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Feynan Ecolodge, Jordan

Nabil Tarazi, Managing Director, EcoHotels

Feynan Ecolodge is a 26-room environmentally friendly lodge located at the South-Western edge of the Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan. Owned by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) and operated by EcoHotels, Feynan integrates conservation and socio-economic development while promoting the importance of the natural environment. In this interview, Nabil Tarazi, Managing Director, EcoHotels, provides insights into best practices adopted by the lodge for sustainable tourism.

Feynan Ecolodge was built back in 2005. How did it come about? What was the motivation to set it up?

What is Feynan’s core sustainability philosophy and what are the key features of Feynan?

Feynan was built by its owner the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). Established in 1966, the RSCN is a non-governmental organisation that has been given the responsibility, by the Government of Jordan, to protect the Kingdom’s natural heritage.

The core ethos of Feynan is to provide unique and authentic visitor experiences, and to do this in a way which provides sustainable economic opportunities for the local communities, generates revenue for the conservation of Jordan’s natural environment and has a minimal footprint on the environment.

The vision for Feynan was inspired by the historical caravanserai – the inns that provided resting points for camel caravans along the ancient silk route and to show that ecotourism is a sustainable alternative to destructive mining.

Feynan Ecolodge has a number of projects and features that support its ethos, for example:  Providing authentic experiences for guests that allow them to interact with

Feynan Entrance, Pic by Brian Scannell

and understand the local environment and Bedouin traditions;  An exclusive local hiring policy so that all staff come from the local area and are given training and a fair wage;  Projects with the local community to

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Feynan Ecolodge

Feynan Ecolodge and Wadi Dana Beyond

provide products or services for the lodge provide alternative sources of income and stimulate business opportunities including for women. For example all bread served at the lodge is made by a local woman from her tent and a rotation of 45 local drivers provide transportation services for guests where all proceeds paid by the guests are given to the drivers;  A sizable proportion of Feynan’s revenue goes to the RSCN for conservation programmes to preserve the natural environment at Dana  The lodge is 100% powered by solar energy, heating water through solar collectors, and using photo-voltaic (PV) panels to generate electricity  Water is sourced from a natural spring, waste is recycled or composted and disposable plastic water bottles have been eliminated from the lodge by replacing them with locally produced clay jar

Could you elaborate more on the eco-practices at Feynan?

Feynan Reception, Pic by Brian Scannell

We strive for best practice in all areas and we believe we have a good track record of meeting our goals on environment, conservation and community engagement. On environmental practices, we aim to minimise the impact of Feynan on the environment in every area, for example: o Electricity is from 100% renewable sources

o Electricity use in the lodge is minimal – at night the lodge is lit by candlelight and only the kitchen, reception and guest bathrooms have electricity. o The candles are made at the lodge by local women o Low energy light bulbs and appliances rated as A/A+ EU rating or Energy Star US rating are used

Candle making workshop Pic by Brian Scannell

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Feynan Ecolodge

Wadi Dana to Wadi Ghwayr hike

Day with a shepherd

 Laundry is air dried  Guest linen is only changed on check out or on request  Electricity usage is monitored from 10 different points across the lodge twice daily  Water used in the lodge is sourced from a local perennial spring and taps have been installed up and downstream from the lodge to ensure the local community has a constant fresh water supply There are several other such features and practices that stem from Feynan’s core sustainability philosophy.

Do you provide Environmental Education & Training to your staff and do you have an Environmental and Respectful Code of Conduct for guests? Our 26 on-site staff are all employed from the local communities around the lodge. They are all given on-going training to ensure skills are developed and improved. Training provided includes: first aid, housekeeping, civil defence, food safety, food service, computer skills, archaeology, astronomy, geology, flora and fauna, English language, guest interaction and guiding techniques. They are all trained in an understanding of how the lodge itself operates and its ethos. Guests are given an introduction when they arrive at the lodge with an overview about how the lodge is run, as well as information on how to be an environmentally and socially responsible guest. There is further information

Some of the Sustainability Features of Feynan Ecolodge  Aerators are fitted in all taps  Water use is monitored from 5 different points daily  Waste water is separated and grease traps are used to clean grey water before it is returned to the valley to its normal water course  Jift or olive pit charcoal, a by-product of Jordan’s olive harvest, is used for heating in winter instead of wood  Disposable plastic bottles have been eliminated from the lodge and replaced with clay water jars produced by a local community cooperative close to Petra  Packaging is minimised by taking our own refillable crates to suppliers  Paper, cardboard, metals, plastic and batteries are recycled  Raw food scraps are composted to organic fertiliser

available in the in-room guides and on information panels that will soon be available in the reception area. There is a daily after dinner presentation to highlight to the guests the ethos and practices of the lodge and the reserve. Guests also interact with lodge staff and guides during activities, such as guided hikes, who will show and explain to them more about the environment, conservation and culture of the surrounding area.

What measurable impact has Feynan made on the local environment, in which it operates? Feynan operates a soft, unobtrusive approach to tourism that provides income generating opportunities and benefits for the local Bedouins while they remain on their ancestral lands. The minimal number of guests, the type of clientele we attract and the environmental awareness and education role the lodge has adopted play

a significant role in maximising the positive impacts of the local community whilst minimising the negative ones. In total the lodge provides direct benefits to over 80 local families which equates to 400 people. We are very proud that in 2012, over 50% of the money paid by guests staying at Feynan stayed in the local area. In addition, Feynan has an important social and cultural benefit. Providing economic opportunities to the local community encourages people to stay in the area and helps to preserve a traditional way of life. The cultural exchange activities offered at the lodge enhance the cultural identity of the area and boost cultural pride amongst the community. Importantly, projects producing bread, candles, leather goods and the cultural exchanges create a rare income generating opportunity for women in a

Feynan Ecolodge

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

More and more travellers no longer want to just do sightseeing, they want to “sight-do”: experience the place they are visiting, have an adventure, meet the locals, share, engage and learn from them. very conservative society. In some families the women are now the breadwinners and women are contributing to economic development of their families for the first time.

From your experience in leading Feynan and knowledge of the industry, what trends do you see for the travel and tourism industry in the future? Do you see a growing interest in sustainable tourism or eco-friendly travel? There are a couple of points I would like to make here. If I blind-fold you and put you in a 5 star resort in Dubai, Greece, Spain, or Turkey, for example, and ask where you are, would you know? All those places offer the same experience. But if I blind-fold you and put you in an eco lodge in Jordan, Costa Rica or India, you will have unique experiences in every

one of those places: experiences tied to that location, culture, nature and people. And that brings me to my second point. Traditionally most tourists were visiting places to do sightseeing. This concept is changing today. More and more travellers no longer want to just do sightseeing, they want to “sight-do”: experience the place they are visiting, have an adventure, meet the locals, share, engage and learn from them. They still want to go to Petra, but whilst there they would also want to learn how to cook local food, for example. This “sight-doing” is what we call experiential travel, which is set to grow. Ecotourism and adventure travel are prime examples of experiential travel. Travellers want to visit a place for the unique experience of being in that environment. They want to experience and understand the culture and environment they have come to see. They

are more educated and responsible about their travel and interested in their destination. There is a great opportunity for the industry to harness this and use this demand to make tourism destinations more sustainable and contribute in a positive way to their local communities, economies and environment.

What are the long term benefits that tourism destination managers can expect from being involved in sustainable business practices that include environmental, socio-cultural and economic aspects? Can this be a competitive advantage? At Feynan, what started as a project to benefit the local community now sees the community as the greatest draw for visitors. We have added value to the area and created something that attracts people from all over the world by designing an offer based around the

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Feynan Ecolodge

Having your local community at the centre of your operation, will enrich the experience of your guests and encourage more dedicated, satisfied staff. community and environment that were already here. Our care for the environment means that we are protecting the area for future generations of locals and tourists alike to enjoy so our success can be sustained.

line. Having your local community at the centre of your operation, will enrich the experience of your guests and encourage more dedicated, satisfied staff.

Tourism managers should be looking at the “assets” they have in their areas in order to differentiate themselves, but they must nurture these assets to create ventures that offer unique and sustainable experiences in their locales.

At the end of the day we are all running a business and we want that to be a successful business in the long term. The only way to do this is to look after your destination and your community so you can keep attracting visitors and use this to your advantage to give you a competitive edge.

We do understand that our market continues to be a niche one, although rapidly growing, but sustainability and local community benefit should be at the core of all tourism businesses.

Feynan is hailed as one of the best 25 eco lodges in the world by National Geographic Traveler Magazine. What does this accolade mean to you and your staff?

Using renewable energy, controlling the use of resources/energy, minimizing waste and recycling will all have direct financial benefit to any company’s bottom

Being named one of the top 25 eco lodges in 2013 was a fantastic achievement for us. Our staff is really proud of such a recognition, especially

because the lodge and the community are in such an isolated and remote part of Jordan so it’s great for them to see the impact they are having on an international scale. We are really proud to be only one of five eco lodges in the world that made the list in both 2013 and in the 2009 top 50 Eco lodges roundup in National Geographic Adventure. It reinforces the work that we do, demonstrates our leadership and shows us we are meeting the highest expectations.

What is your sustainability message to the travel trade? We may be a specialised eco lodge but there are small things that all establishments could do that would make a big difference such as eliminating plastic water bottles and replacing them with refillable containers, for example.

Feynan Ecolodge

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

International awards & recognition: 

National Geographic Traveler Magazine (2013): One of the best 25 ecolodges in the world in 2013 and one of only five lodges to make the list in 2009 and 2013



TripAdvisor (2013): TripAdvisor’s 2013 Traveler’s Choice Award for Best Service



CNNGo (2012): One of the top 15 ecolodges in the world



TripAdvisor (2011, 2012, 2013): TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, and is currently rated in the top 10 hotels amongst 192 in Jordan by TripAdvisor users



Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards (2011): Highly Commended for Best for Poverty Reduction



The Guardian’s Green Travel List (2010): Best project that combines conservation work and local community benefit



Travel + Leisure (2010): Global Vision Award for Sustainable Design



National Geographic Adventure Magazine (2009): One of the top 50 ecolodges in the world

Environmental and financial savings often go hand in hand so start thinking about easy substitutions that can make a difference and potentially make you stand out in your market. The tourism industry has a big responsibility to manage destinations sustainably for the long term, but it is in our own interests to do this. It makes sense from every angle – after all who will want to visit a place that was ruined by the people who were there before them?

SOST Assessment

➜ Feynan Ecolodge demonstrates compliance with most indicators for baseline certification under the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC). ➜ Having a written sustainability policy that provides the vision, goals and a framework for sustainability initiatives is recommended.

➜ Documenting energy records to calculate its total net annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and making a pledge to reduce use of motorized vehicles are some of the steps it needs to take in order that the company may be certified as a GSTC-aligned sustainable tourism business.

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.

Point of View

A New United Front for Sustainable Tourism Our contributing writer for the column Point of View is Megan Epler Wood, Core Instructor for the graduate school for Sustainability and Environmental Management at Harvard University Extension and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise at the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University. She has led an international consulting practice EplerWood International since 2003. In this article, Megan builds the case for a definition for Sustainable Tourism that speaks to the market, includes the best ideas from the different schools of thought, and is representative of decades of work in this area.

Introduction In September, I was proud to stand in front of an audience of over 300 ecotourism advocates from all over the world and receive The International Ecotourism Society’s (TIES) Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2013 Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. TIES was formed in 1990, at a time when tourism was still primarily viewed as a thoroughly unsustainable activity. The Society was the first non-governmental organization dedicated to developing the tools and methodologies to make tourism a tool for conservation and sustainable development. It was not until 1992, at the Rio Summit that sustainable tourism emerged on the global agenda. During the Society’s early years, ecotourism was positioned carefully as a tool to build tourism in a new way, with ecological principles, allowing travelers to see that tourism need not be separate

from nature, but rather in harmony with the earth’s natural resources. A myriad of innovative ideas were fostered by the Society to develop tourism near or within protected areas with a goal of supporting the cost of conservation around the world. And ecotourism practitioners worked from the get go to benefit local people, and help local communities around the world claim a larger share of tourism’s economic benefits. Dr. David Western, TIES’ first Chairman who won its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, wrote to me after the event in Nairobi to say that he was thrilled that TIES had had so much influence over the years and attracted an ever growing group of advocates working to use ecotourism according to its principles. It is true that founding any organization, especially one that did not appear to have strong international support was an act of faith and some courage, and he believes we

were both lucky to see how ecotourism has blossomed worldwide. But ecotourism is not a broad based solution. It was always meant to address a niche market not the entire global tourism community. But because the term ecotourism had so much prominence early, it was challenged by others who felt that different definitions were needed. Even though sustainable tourism was defined in 1992 at the Rio Summit, it was quite slow to really begin to attract attention and was never viewed as a term the market understood or recognized. Unfortunately, the field fractured around 2002 and new definitions of sustainable tourism emerged that are more broad based and consumer oriented. On November 14, 2013 at the Harvard OnLine Forum on Tourism and the Environment, Mauro Marrocu, Chief Executive Officer of the Global

Point of View

Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), stated that the sustainable tourism community seems to be in competition with itself. “There are so many denominations,” he said. “Do we really think customers understand? Is there any more than a 1% difference between these definitions?”

Can the Definition Problem Be Solved? It is fair to say there has been a competition to properly define the field. There is ecotourism, sustainable tourism, geotourism and responsible tourism all with institutional affiliations competing for scarce resources. Different schools come from different continents, different organizational philosophies, and prominent institutions with different agendas. Marrocu of the GSTC, noted at Harvard, “we are far too fragmented, and this competition between definitions creates weakness.” The small difference between definitions

could be solved, and the time is now to construct a more unified sustainable tourism approach. This is more than an academic exercise. As the global travel economy continues to expand, the need to focus on techniques and methodologies for managing growth, under one banner, with a unified approach is great.

sustainability? As Whelan pointed out at Harvard, many large tourism companies are only working on a project basis. They offer good examples but are not “proactively reducing the impacts of their supply chains.” Companies and governments define their own approaches to sustainability and work towards fulfilling benchmarks without unity.

Tensie Whelan, President of Rainforest Alliance, laid out a challenge at the Harvard Forum, asking the representatives of tourism businesses and governments to unite and work out commitments to lowering impacts from the tourism sector as a whole. She suggested tourism needs to shift from a “niche approach to a mainstream approach.” She called on the industry at large to set benchmarks for sustainable sourcing of products worldwide.

Is the fracturing of the sustainable tourism definition the cause of the problem? If the strengths and weakness of each definition could be identified, could a more unified approach be adopted? The definition problem is a problem that has been perpetuated for so long, most are hesitant to address it for fear of fracturing the community further. And I certainly have long felt it should not take another moment of our time, after listening to conference deliberations on this for 10 years. But, as we enter into the century of rapid tourism growth, I believe it is necessary to try again to solve this problem.

But is this possible if the field of sustainable tourism cannot agree on the definition of responsibility or

Point of View

It is time to put tourism into the context of global industry. Its global business footprint has both social and environmental dimensions. Both need to be measured. Its role in current global development trends has additional importance. I propose that there is a global effort to adopt a single definition for all forms of sustainable tourism. While a sustainable tourism definition already does exist, it does not incorporate the strengths of each of the sub-definitions into the larger definition. There has never been an effort to do this. It would be well worth the effort to bring the strengths of these new ideas to the larger definition of sustainable tourism to help unify the field. For the main sub-areas of sustainable tourism here are the strengths. 1. Ecotourism addresses the challenge of managing tourism in wild lands, providing support to the conservation of biodiversity and parks and protected areas. It attracts a market interested in experiencing wild places and wildlife, while ensuring local people fully benefit. 2. Ethical, responsible tourism creates a better place for people to live in and better places to visit. It cannot be segmented into niche market vehicles that exclude “mass tourism.” 3. Geotourism addresses the protection of places. Destinations have more than ecological sustainability limits, they have geographic character that is the combination of both natural and cultural heritage.

These strengths divide the fields of responsible, eco and geotourism. Each is devoted to creating a set of tools that confirms the importance of their strengths. Each is equally important. But there is little doubt that the term sustainable tourism could easily include all of these strengths. The existing United Nations definition of sustainable tourism could be improved to incorporate the ideas above, and it is time this took place. The current UN definition reads roughly as follows: • Sustainable tourism makes optimal use of environmental resources and conserves the natural heritage and biodiversity. • Sustainable tourism respects to sociocultural features of host communities, conserves their built and living cultural heritage and traditional values and contributes to intercultural understanding and tolerance. • Sustainable tourism ensures long-term economic viability providing benefits to all stakeholders and helps to reduce poverty. In fact there is very little missing in this definition that does not honestly include the ideas of ecotourism, geo and responsible tourism, but it could be

redone to make it a more accessible definition. In an effort to retool the terminology used to define sustainable tourism, I suggest this revision: “Sustainable tourism creates a better place for people to live, work and visit by providing long-term economic benefits to local people, protecting the environment and biodiversity, and preserving the cultural heritage, traditional values and character of destinations worldwide.” Why Retooling is a Must? To date, tourism has barely registered in the global lexicon of development challenges, likely because it is seen as a luxury – a leisure industry which is not required to make the global economy tick. But this view has been short sighted. It is time to put tourism into the context of global industry. Its global business footprint has both social and environmental dimensions. Both need to be measured. Its role in current global development trends has additional importance. Tourism is part of the transformation of the world economy, both as a business and leisure industry. It thrives on the growth of the global economy and will

Point of View

grow at an accelerated pace as air travel becomes an increasingly essential tool for business in countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China. These (BRIC) countries have high rates of tourism growth and are symbols for how the global economy is being transformed. At the Harvard Forum Geoffrey Lipmann, CEO of Gate Trip and GreenEarth.Travel stated that “We need to change how we power the industry, how we ensure social inclusion and conserve biodiversity.” He stated that the tools to be employed need to go “beyond certification, beyond awards and beyond indicators.” I would add the field needs to go beyond niche definitions that have left the field of sustainable tourism fractured and limited in influence. Can we not reach a firm, global agreement on one definition that can be used in all presentations and media discussions around the world? Would it not advance our field in every way? A one sentence definition is essential and would be 100% more useful than a long set of bullet points. If sustainable tourism experts from the different camps can agree on this simple step, it would be powerful. Sustainable tourism needs a definition that speaks to the market, includes the best ideas from the different schools of thought, and is representative of the last 20 years of work.

Megan Epler Wood is a Core Instructor for the graduate school for Sustainability and Environmental Management at Harvard University Extension and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise at the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University. She has led an international consulting practice EplerWood International since 2003. Megan founded The International Ecotourism Society in 1990, the first NGO in the world to be dedicated to sustainable development of tourism and was its president and CEO for 12 years. she received the TIES Lifetime Achievement award in 2013. She is a published author and editor of many titles, including Ecotourism; Principles, Practices and Policies in 2002 for the United Nations Environment Program. Her numerous academic papers investigate sustainable tourism markets, certification, economic growth, alleviation of poverty and environmental conservation. www.eplerwood.com Images: www.eplerwood.com

Market Intelligence

Green Cities of Asia

Produced by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and sponsored by Siemens, the Green City Index is actually a collection of separate regional city rankings, including the African Green City Index, Asian Green City Index, European Green City Index, Latin American Green City Index and the U.S. and Canada Green City Index. Cities were selected for their size and importance (mainly capital cities and large population or business centres). The Green City Index series measures cities on approximately 30 indicators across eight to nine categories depending on the region. It covers CO2 emissions, energy, buildings, land use, transport, water and sanitation, waste management, air quality and environmental governance. The Asian Green City Index measures and rates the environmental performance of 22 Asian cities. They are capital cities as well as certain leading business centres selected for their size and importance. The cities were placed in one of five performance bands, from well below average to well above average.

Well below average

Below average

Average

Above average

Well above average

Karachi

Bengaluru Hanoi Kolkata Manila Mumbai

Bangkok Beijing Delhi Guangzhou Jakarta Kuala Lumpur Nanjing Shanghai Wuhan

Hong Kong Osaka Seoul Taipei Tokyo Yokohama

Singapore

For detailed methodology and results, refer the Asia Report: Source: http://www.siemens.com/entry/cc/features/greencityindex_international/all/en/pdf/report_asia.pdf

Image source: http://technologygreenenergy.blogspot.ae/2012/12/types-of-green-technology.html

Market Intelligence

Green Cities of Africa

The African Green City Index measures the environmental performance of 15 major African cities across eight environmental categories. Africa is urbanizing faster than any continent in the world: by 2035 half of all Africans are expected to live in urban areas. Already, informal settlements, electricity and water supply, waste management and sanitation are urgent challenges in many African cities. Key highlights:  No city performs well above average - all cities face tough challenges  North African cities do nearly as well as South African ones in overall performance  None of the sub-Saharan cities (excluding South Africa) except Accra finished better than “average”  Where fewer people live in informal settlements, the city performs better

Well below average

Below average

Average

Above average

Dar es Salaam Maputo

Luanda Nairobi

Addis Ababa Alexandria Cairo Lagos Pretoria

Accra Cape Town Casablanca Durban Johannesburg Tunis

For detailed methodology and results, refer the Africa Report: Source: http://www.siemens.com/entry/za/en/greencityindex.htm

Image source: Siemens press picture

Well above average

Market Intelligence

Green Showcase South Africa Photography Tours

Green Showcase

South Africa Photography Tours offers exclusive cultural interactions as well as wilderness safari, whilst staying in the best lodges in Africa. Experience South Africa’s vast diversity and raw beauty of its landscapes and coastline with your private photography guides.

his tertiary studies in the country’s capital of Pretoria, before commencing his photography career.

Morné and Keturah de Klerk are freelance photographers producing editorial and commercial content for national and international clients. They are based in Australia for six months of the year for

this photography work and in South Africa for the other 6 months, where they lead photography safaris to the Kalahari. This is where Morné grew up, completing

In 2010 Morné & Keturah exhibited a photography project on grass-roots football/soccer in South Africa, a project which was published as a book in South Africa, in time for the World Cup, by Art Publishers - Africa's Beautiful Game. The exhibition and resulting book raised money for football charities in South Africa. Keturah says, “It was in the process of creating the images for this project – travelling around South Africa and meeting lovely, welcoming people in townships & dirt football fields in the middle of nowhere, being able to photograph them in quite dramatic landscapes and light, that we decided

Green Showcase

other travellers and keen photographers would love this too. At the same time, we were inspired by the good work that small local groups and individuals in poorer townships were trying to do. By bringing guests to these grass-roots football clubs and other such groups, we can help support these local initiatives.” A football coach who told us his favourite quote, further inspired us in this: ‘a child in sport is a child out of court’. Keturah and Morné’s private guided safaris are focused on ethical photography and giving back to the communities that guests meet and photograph. They have gained the collaboration of locally run grass-roots football teams and a mission school, as well as indigenous tourism organisations including that of the Kalahari Bushmen. The football teams have been specifically set up by locals, to create opportunity and motivation for youth of the area living in shanty towns and makeshift housing. In running safaris Keturah and Morné employ local & often indigenous guides for specific areas, bringing business to indigenous tourism initiatives. They also

donate funds to the mission school and football/soccer teams directly. Their intention is to be able to sponsor such teams on a regular basis, as well as increase their opportunities for sponsorship from others, while sharing a remarkable part of the country with visitors and giving them meaningful experiences with locals, through ethical photography practices. Keturah and Morné also hope to bridge the social gap between these township communities and the more affluent city communities by promoting the successful interactions and tourism opportunities that can occur.

Responsible Tourism Practises  Collaboration with locally run tourism initiatives  Collaboration with charity organisations  Donate to/ Sponsor local football team  Fair compensation for being photographed  All photographs provide benefits to either the photographer or the community  Australian Institute of Professional Photography Code of Ethics is followed  Meets the requirements for Responsible tourism, as laid out in the Cape Town Declaration:

– minimises negative economic, environmental, and social impacts; – generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the wellbeing of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry; – provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues; – makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world's diversity; – is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence. www.icrtourism.org/Capetown.shtml

Green Showcase

A local boy mimics a photographer taking photos, with his own makeshift camera. Northern Cape, South Africa, Pic: Keturah de Klerk

Young men play soccer on a red dusty Kalahari field with the golden glow of the impending sunset. They train after work and often they have to cut training short as there are no lights at the field. Northern Cape, South Africa. Pic: Morne de Klerk

Guests watch as a Bushman tracker identifies something in the Kalahari sand. Northern Cape, South Africa. Pic: Keturah de Klerk

Spectators watch a league game from the sidelines as the players chase down the ball on this sandy pitch in South Africa's Northern Cape. Fields in this Kalahari part of the country often have no grass due to a lack of rainfall and infrastructure. Pic: Keturah de Klerk

Local Kalahari Bushman Honeyboy explains a Kalahari fact to Morne. Northern Cape, South Africa. Pic: Keturah de Klerk

A herd of wildebeest walk down to a waterhole, the dawn light catches the Kalahari dust that they kick up. Northern Cape, South Africa. Pic: Morne de Klerk

South Africa Photography Tours: http://www.saphototours.com

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

Would you like to be listed in the Business Directory and reach out to thousands of potential travel partners?

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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