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International Mountain Day: Links
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Events
2002-2004
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In July 1998 the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) proposed to members of the UN General Assembly that 2002 be designated as the International Year of Ecotourism (IYE). The lead agencies of this year were the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
The World Ecotourism Summit held in Québec, Canada in May 2002, represented the culmination of the International Year of Ecotourism, and was an initiative of the World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The Cape Town Conference on responsible tourism was organized by the Responsible Tourism Partnership and Western Cape Tourism as a side event preceding the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002.
The conference on Environmental Sustainability for Mountain Areas Impacted by Tourism and Amenity Migration was held at the Banff Centre for Mountain Culture in Banff, Canada in June 2003.
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2005- 2008
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The Rural Tourism Fair (Oaxaca, Mexico, February, 2005) brought together local travel providers, community leaders, media, government officials and inspired travellers. The event, co-created by Planeta.com, showcased alternatives for travellers exploring Mexico's rural countryside.
Planeta on-line conference on rural tourism (25 April - 6 May 2005). Planeta.com played host to a global two-week online dialogue on rural tourism: an opportunity to review current work around the globe and build upon issues raised in the recent Planeta.com Urban Ecotourism Conference (September-October 2004).
Smithers Symposium on Mountain Community Development (Smithers, British Columbia, Canada. 28 - 30 June 2005). The purpose of this event was to bring together researchers, planning practitioners and decision-makers concerned with planning for nature-based tourism, amenity migration, and large resort development in mountain communities of the world, but particularly those in the British Columbia interior.
The First Ecotourism in the U.S. Conference. (Bar Harbor, Maine, 14-16 September 2005)
Each year World Tourism Day is celebrated on 27 September. The main purpose of World Tourism Day is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.
Third Global Summit on Peace through Tourism (Pattaya, Thailand, 2-5 October 2005).
International Conference on Protected Areas in the Alps (Nice, France, 24-26 November 2005). Organized by the Alpine Network of Protected Areas.
Ecotourism Emerging Industry Forum. (1-18 November, 2005). The online forum is designed to provide professionally moderated, up-to-date results on small and medium enterprise (SME) priorities for funding and investment decisions for sustainable tourism in developing countries.
2006 Tourism and Migration Conference to be organized by Planeta. Participants will share information about current work and coordinate research and collaborative projects.
Chiapas 20 Foro Internacional de Turismo Solidario y Comercio Justo (Tuxtla-Guiterrez, Chiapas, Mexico, 23-26 March 2006).
2008 Workshop: Managing Ecotourism in Mountain Protected Areas to be organized by IUCN WCPA.
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Declarations
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Babia Gora Declaration on Sustainable Tourism Development in Mountain Areas is the outcome of the international workshop for Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries held in Sucha Beskidzka, Biosphere Reserve Babia Gora National Park, Poland in October 2002. The workshop was supported by UNEP and UNESCO. |
Fact sheets
Guidelines
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The Inka Porter Project (IPP) published a set of environmental guidelines for trekkers on the Inca Trail in Peru and other Andean hiking circuits.
WWF International developed Guidelines for community-based ecotourism development. These guidelines identify some general principles, and highlight some practical considerations for community-based ecotourism. They seek to provide a reference point for field project staff, and to encourage a consistent approach.
The Resource Kit for Community-based Tourism for Conservation and Development serves as a guide for planners and field-based staff to design, implement and manage community-based tourism. The Kit was originally developed to accompany international courses in 'Community-based Tourism for Conservation and Development' offered by The Mountain Institute (TMI) and the Regional Community Forestry Training Center (RECOFTC).
Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas. Guidelines for Planning and Management Published by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), these guidelines aim to assist protected area managers and other stakeholders in the planning and management of protected areas, visitor recreation and the tourism industry, so that tourism can develop in a sustainable fashion, while respecting local conditions and local communities.
Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development. This document includes international guidelines for activities related to sustainable tourism development in vulnerable terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats of major importance for biological diversity and protected areas, including fragile riparian and mountain ecosystems. It is published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biodiversity.
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Organizations
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UN
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) takes a special interest in ecotourism and its relationship with conservation, sustainability, and biological diversity. UNEP and the World Tourism Organization (WTO) took the lead in coordinating the International Year of Ecotourism in 2002.
UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves seek to help guide tourism towards a more sustainable path.
The World Tourism Organization (WTO/OMT), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the leading international organization in the field of tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and practical source of tourism know-how. Together with UNEP, WTO coordinated global observance of the International Year of Ecotourism in 2002.
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NGOs and others (by region)
Africa
Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa encourages and publicizes fair and responsible business practice by the tourism industry in South Africa. FTTSA's mission is to facilitate the integration of Fair Trade in Tourism Principles and Criteria into South African tourism so that the industry is more sustainable. Principles include: Fair Share, Democracy, Respect, Reliability, Transparency and Sustainability.
Naturally Africa Dot Orgis an online portal enabling locals and visitors to find out more about countries in Africa. The site provides basic travel guides and travel information combined with listings of local businesses including accommodation, restaurants, leisure and wellness activities, a directory and an events calendar. The vision of Naturally Africa is that African countries take advantage of their natural resources and diverse cultures to attract tourists and visitors from across the globe in order to achieve economic independence.
The Ecotourism Society of Kenya (ESOK) was founded in 1996 to provide a unique forum where members would comprehend the concept of ecotourism and use this knowledge to improve performance in line with the principles of ecotourism. In particular, it was envisaged that ESOK would provide leadership in development of standards for best practice tourism, especially ecotourism, and ensure that equity is achieved among all stakeholders.
The Kilimanjaro Environmental Conservation Management Trust Fund is an NGO based in Tanzania, East Africa. The objective of the Fund is to mobilize financial resources and channel them to communities with a view to financing community driven activities geared towards combating environmental problems and hence improving the living conditions of the people through improved environmental conditions.
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Asia Pacific
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CAMAT - Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism offers economic and livelihood opportunities to the people of Chitral. CAMAT aims to promote Chitral as a tourist destination for foreign and domestic tour operators, foreign tourists and groups who come for mountaineering and trekking. CAMAT's members consist of hotel owners, tour operators, tour guides, jeep drivers and shop keepers.
Eco Himal is an international NGO that works mainly with local grassroots' initiatives and village community groups in Nepal and Tibet to improve living conditions for the local populations. Eco Himal is focusing on small-scale hydropower and solar energy,rural development and biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism, cultural cooperation and preservation of cultural heritage.
Ecotourism Australia is the leading national body for the ecotourism industry with a diverse membership that includes key industry sectors such as tour operators; tourism planners; protected area managers; academics and students; environmental, interpretation and training consultants; local and regional tourism associations and travellers.
Ecotourism Society Pakistan (ESP) is a group of professionals, dedicated to the cause of integrated tourism research and assists poor people living in mountain areas. ESP mainly concentrates on problem-oriented multidisciplinary field research in tourism, distributes literature on tourism and offers ecotours all over Pakistan.
EQUATIONS is a non-profit organization based in Bangalore, India that promotes holistic tourism and works towards transforming the inherently exploitative nature of mass commercial tourism. EQUATIONS' activities include documentation, publication, research, seminars and the investigation of alternative tourism policies and structures.
The primary objectives of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)are to help to promote the development of an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem and to improve the living standards of mountain populations, with a special focus on the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. ICIMOD recently initiated a Mountain Tourism Resource Centre after having realized that there is a lack of information and literature on the subject in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Area.
SUNV is a unique joint programme between SNV Netherlands Development Organization and United Nations Volunteers in Lao PDR. SUNV has been working since 1995 to support poor local communities, marginalized groups of people in society, and government organizations in Lao. The Programme provides advisory services and technical assistance, emphasizing on institutional development and capacity-building.
Sustainable Tourism Network Nepal is a network of groups and individuals committed to the promotion of sustainable tourism in Nepal and whose objectives are the continuous development and promotion of sustainable tourism. The participants of the network are national tourism organizations, tour operators, development organizations and individuals.
The Ecotourism Conservation Society of Sikkim (ECOSS) in India is dedicated to promoting ecotourism and conservation for the benefit of people at all levels of Sikkimese society. ECOSS seeks to combine the strengths of rural communities with the experiences of national and international groups who are leaders in the field of ecotourism.
The Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP)is an NGO that provides impartial and independent information to travellers, and ensures the future ecological and cultural prosperity of Nepal through positive impact tourism and outreach project work.
The King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC) in Nepal promotes, conserves and manages nature in all its diversity, balancing human needs with the environment on a sustainable basis for posterity.
The Tourism for Rural Poverty Alleviation Programme (TRPAP) of Nepal assists some of Nepal's poorest rural areas by developing, promoting and marketing rural tourism. As a community-based tourism programme, it uses tourism as a vehicle to reduce poverty. TRPAP is implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation with technical and financial assistance from UNDP, DFID and SNV/Nepal.
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Europe
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Ecological Tourism Europe (ETE) was founded in Germany as a forum for national organizations supporting environmentally and socially responsible tourism. To date, ETE has five member organizations, which work in the fields of nature conservation and environment protection, sustainable tourism, youth, leisure activities and culture.
ECOTRANS is a European network of experts and organizations in tourism, environment and regional development, who are seeking to promote good practice in the field of sustainable tourism.
Friends of Nature International are committed to a sustainable deal for a nature- based on democracy and solidarity in both economy and society. The activities of the organization are focused on Europe's responsibility for sustainable development, environmentally and socially sound tourism, sustainable regional development and active environmental education.
The Swedish Ecotourism Society has developed a system of quality classification. There are plans to produce a special logo, which will illustrate which ecotourism products and arrangements are of high quality.
Tourism Concern is a British membership organization campaigning for ethical and fairly traded tourism.
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Latin America
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Ecoturismolatino is an ecotourism guide of Natural Protected Areas in Latin America which aims to promote the conservation of protected natural areas in the region through the development of genuine ecotourism that provides resources (economic and/or human) for conservation, actively involves community participation and incorporates environmental education and nature interpretation as a tools to encourage a re-linkage between humans and nature.
The Foundation for Integrated Education and Development (FUNEDESIN), is dedicated to finding sustainable solutions in the struggle between the ideals of rain forest preservation and the realities of life in the Ecuadorian Amazon. FUNDESIN works with local communities to develop community-based medical care and ecotourism programmes, establish sustainable agricultural practices, improve education, provide environmentally sustainable economic alternatives, and conserve the rain forest.
Planeta.com is a pioneer of on-line environmental and tourism reporting, providing a public space for the development of conscientious travel and ecotourism that benefits multiple stakeholders, from local communities to travellers. Planeta.com hosts the Latin America Media Project (LAMP) to spotlight reporters working in the field and showcase Web sites about this region.
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North America
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Indigenous Tourism Rights International, formerly the Rethinking Tourism Project, is based in the US and is dedicated to collaborating with indigenous communities and networks to help protect native territories, rights and cultures. Its mission is to facilitate the exchange of local experiences in order to understand, challenge and take control of the ways in which tourism affects lives.
Partners in Responsible Tourism (PIRT) is a network of individuals and representatives of tourism companies, based in San Francisco (USA), who have a strong interest in adventure travel and ecotourism and are concerned about the impact of tourism and tourism development on local environments and cultures, particularly those of indigenous peoples. PIRT believes that responsible tourism promotes positive cultural and environmental ethics and practices, and promotes travel which supports these goals.
The International Bicycle Fund is US-based NGO that promotes bicycle transportation in order to create a sustainable, people-friendly environment. Responsible tourism is one of the Fund's core activities.
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) generates and disseminates information about ecotourism to a diverse membership in more than 70 countries. TIES promotes responsible travel that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.
The mission of the Rainforest Alliance is to protect ecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behaviour. The Rainforest Alliance's Sustainable Tourism Program works with tourism entrepreneurs and community-based businesses in Latin America,.
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Global
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Conservation International (CI) is a global non-profit organization, working in 32 countries on four continents. CI's ecotourism projects help forge links between human welfare and the protection of biodiversity, placing CI at the forefront of conservation efforts in critical hotspots such as Madidi National Park in Bolivia, the Upper Guinean Forest in Ghana, the Maya Biosphere Reserve in the Petén Region in Guatemala and many others.
GREEN GLOBE 21 is the worldwide benchmarking and certification programme which facilitates sustainable travel and tourism for consumers, companies and communities. It is based on Agenda 21 and the principles for Sustainable Development endorsed by 182 governments at the United Nations 'Earth Summit' (Rio de Janeiro, 1992).
The International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) promotes access for the freedom to enjoy climbing and mountain sports in a responsible way and with minimum impact to the environment. The UIAA helps to protect mountain areas and climbing sites from damaging developments, and encourages development for local communities.
Mountain Wilderness is an international movement for the preservation of mountain environments. The objective of Mountain Wilderness is the "safeguard of the mountain under all its aspects". Mountain Wilderness is comprised of NGOs from several countries, and an international assembly, international coordination and the group of Mountain Wilderness international guarantors.
The International Porter Protection Group (IPPG) works to improve the conditions of mountain porters in the tourism industry worldwide. This involves working to eradicate avoidable illness, injury and death through awareness raising of the issues among travel companies, guides, trek leaders, sirdars (porters' foremen), and trekkers. IPPG also supports porters in their quest for a decent wage and freedom from overloading (especially at high altitude).
The Mountain Institute, founded in 1972, is based in Washington, DC, and has offices and community-based programs in the Andean, Appalachian and Himalayan mountain ranges, partnering with local people to strengthen their communities and to conserve their natural resources and cultural heritage. The Mountain Institute supports community-based tourism initiatives in the Himalayas and in the Andes.
The Responsible Tourism Partnership is a not-for-profit organization that works in partnerships to improve destinations for local people and their visitors. The Partnership aims at bringing together tourism businesses in originating markets and destinations to work with local communities and national and local government to create better places for local communities to live in and for tourists to visit.
Tourism Watch was established in 1975 by the Church Development Service of the Protestant Church in Germany and is involved in training programmes and solidarity initiatives related to "Third-World" tourism. It promotes socially and environmentally responsible developments in tourism. Against a background of numerous negative consequences resulting from tourism, Tourism Watch questions the assumption that "tourism equals development".
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Information portals
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DestiNet is an Internet portal for tourist destinations and their stakeholders in Europe. The portal contains selected, quality-assessed information on the ways in which tourism is being made more sustainable. DestiNet offers a number of services including the option to post news bulletins and suggest new links on relevant topics.
The Pro Poor Tourism Web site provides up-to-date information on Pro-Poor Tourism, tourism that results in increased net benefits for poor people. A range of research reports and studies that focus on how tourism's contribution to poverty reduction can be increased can be downloaded from the webpage.
The Internet database gentle-tours.org has been developed as a worldwide Internet portal for ecological tourism. On this site, you can find useful information to plan a sustainable-oriented holiday.
'Tourisme solidaire et development durable' is an Internet site that displays texts, charts, contacts and project documents (of which many are in mountain areas) related to responsible and solidarity tourism.
The Big Volcano Ecotourism Resource Centre is a comprehensive guide to ecotourism practice, ecologically sustainable development (ESD) and general tourism and travel best practice management sites world-wide.
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Key Documents
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Brandon, K., 1996. Ecotourism and Conservation: A review of Key Issues. Environment department papers No. 033. The World Bank.
Christ, C.; Hillel, O.; Matus, S. & Sweeting, J., 2003. Tourism and Biodiversity: Mapping Tourism's Global Footprint. Conservation International.
East, P. Luger, K. & Inmann, K, eds 1998. Sustainability in Mountain Tourism : Perspectives for the Himalayan Countries. Delhi, India. Book Faith.
Epler Wood, M., 2002. Ecotourism: Principles, Practices and Policies for Sustainability. UNEP. Paris. France.
Hurni, H., ed.2002. MRD, 22(2). Ecotourism in mountains: realizing the potential. Published by the United Nation University and the International Mountain Society (IMS).
ICIMOD & Centre for Rural Technology, 1997. Manual of Rural Technology with Implications for Mountain Tourism.
Mountain Agenda, 1999. Mountains of the World - Tourism and Sustainable Mountain Development. Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Berne, Switzerland. (Free download available at: http://www.cde.unibe.ch)
Nepal, S. K. Mountain Eco-Tourism: Global Perspective on Challenges and Opportunities. University of Northern British Colombia. Prince George. Canada. (paper).
Nepal, S.K.; Kohler, T.& Banzhaf, B.R., 2002. Great Himalaya. Tourism and the Dynamics of change in Nepal. by the Swiss Foundation for Alpine Research, Zurich, Switzerland in collaboration with the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Switzerland.
Nepal, S. K., 2002. Tourism as a key to sustainable mountain development: the Nepalese Himalayas in retrospect. FAO. Rome, Italy.
Overseas Development Institute, 1999. Sustainable Tourism and Poverty Elimination Study. A report to the Department for International Development.
Panos, 1995. Ecotourism: Paradise lost or paradise gained. Panos media briefing No. 14.
Price, M.; Moss L. & Williams, P., 1997. Tourism and amenity migration. In: B. Messerli & J.D. Ives, eds. Mountains of the World. A global priority., pp.249-280. Parthenon Publishing Group Inc., New York, USA.
Sharma, P., ed. 2002. Tourism as Development: Case Studies from the Himalaya. Austria/Germany. Kathmandu: Himal Books and STUDIENVerlag.Innsbruck-Wien-Munchen.
The Mountain Forum, 1999.Community-Based Mountain Tourism: Practices for Linking Conservation with Enterprise. Synthesis of an Electronic Conference of the Mountain Forum, April 13-May 18, 1998. (available at www.mtnforum.org)
The World Tourism Organization & United Nations Environment Programme, 2002. World Ecotoursim Summit. Final Report. Madrid. Spain.
The World Tourism Organization, 1997. Rural Tourism - A Solution for Employment, Local Development and Environment. Madrid. Spain.
The World Tourism Organization, 2002. Tourism and Poverty Alleviation. Madrid. Spain.
The World Tourism Organization, 2003. Sustainable development of ecotourism. A compilation of good practices in SMEs (small ecotourism businesses). Madrid. Spain.
The World Tourism Organization, 2005. Tourism Microfinance and Poverty Alleviation. Madrid. Spain.
The World Tourism Organization, 2005. Making Tourism more Sustainable - A Guide for Policy Makers. Madrid. Spain.
The World Tourism Organization, 2005. Cultural Tourism and Poverty Alleviation - The Asia-Pacific Pespective. Madrid. Spain.
The World Tourism Organization, 2005. Enhancing the Economic Benefits of Tourism for Local Communities and Poverty Alleviation. Madrid. Spain.
Toepfer, K., ed. 2002. Mountains and Ecotourism. UNEP. (available at. www.ourplanet.com)
UNEP, 2003. Tourism and Local Agenda 21 - The Role of Local Authorities in Sustainable Tourism. Case studies and first lessons. (available at: www.uneptie.org)
UNEP, 2005. Forging links between protected areas and the tourism sector: How tourism can benefit conservation. Paris. France.
UNEP & Regione Toscana, 2005. Marketing Sustainable Tourism Products. by X. Font & B. Carey. Region of Tuscany. Italy.
UNEP & WTO, 2002. WTO-UNEP Concept Paper - International Year of Ecotourism 2002. (available at: www.world-tourism.org)
UNEP & WTO, 2005. Making Tourism More Sustainable: A Guide for Policy Makers. Paris. France
Wearing, S. & Neil, J., 1999. Ecotourism. Impacts Potentials and Possibilities. Oxford. UK. Elsevier Science LTD.
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Journals
Oral Testimonies
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The Mountain Voices Web site, developed by the Panos Oral History Programme contains a section on tourism, with oral testimonies from mountain dwellers on their experiences.
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Film Festivals
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The Festival International du Film Alpin et de l'Environnement is held in the last week of September each year in les Diablerets, Switzerland. About thirty films from the around the world compete in such categories as Freeride, Extreme Sports, Exploits, Fiction, Documentary and Environment.
The Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival is organized by Himal Association, a Kathmandu based non-profit group which seeks to inform the people of the Himalaya on issues related to their lives and times. The non-competitive biennial festival of mountain films provides a unique platform for filmmakers to exhibit new works, and to foster an understanding of the world's highlands, mountain cultures, and mountain sensibilities.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival in Canada, presented by National Geographic and Dunham Bootmakers, presents mountain films, videos and speakers from around the world.
The Fort William Mountain Film Festival, takes place in the Scottish Highlands and provides a varied and very full programme of lectures, films, activities and exhibitions during nine days every February.
The International Film Festival of Trento -- the oldest film festival in the world -- specializes in showing documentary and fiction films on the themes of mountains, exploration, mountaineering and mountain culture. Visit the official Web site at: http://www.trentofestival.it for schedules and to view film clips, director profiles and past winners of festival awards.
The Dundee Mountain Film Festival was established in Scotland to promote interest in films relating to mountain activities, exploration, the mountain environment and the diverse cultures found in mountainous regions. The Festival is currently a non-competitive event.
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Experts
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| Werner Bätzing |
Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Institute of Geography
Erlangen-Germany |
wbaetz@geographie.uni-erlangen.de |
| Hans Elsasser |
Department of Geography
Univeristy of Zurich
Zurich-Switzerland |
elsasser@geo.unizh.ch |
| Harold Goodwin |
International Centre for Responsible Tourism
University of Greenwich
Kent-UK |
gh10@gre.ac.uk |
| Jack D.Ives |
Department of Geography and Environmental Studies
Carleton University
Ottawa-Canada |
Jack_Ives@carleton.ca |
| Paul Messerli |
The Geograophical Institute
University of Berne
Berne-Switzerland |
mep@giub.unibe.ch |
| Hansruedi Mueller |
Research Institute for Leisure and Tourism
University of Berne
Berne-Switzerland |
hansruedi.mueller@fif.unibe.ch |
| Sanjay Nepal |
Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
Texas A&M University
TAMU-Texas-USA |
sknepal@tamu.edu |
| Martin Price |
Centre for Mountain Studies
Perth-Scotland |
martin.price@perth.uhi.ac.uk |
| Peter Williams |
School of Resource and Environmental Management
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby B.C.-Canada |
peter_williams@sfu.ca |
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Tour Operators/Travel Agents
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Anangu Tours is an Aboriginal owned tour company based at Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the Northern Territory, Australia. All of the trips offered by Anangu Tours are led by local Aboriginal people. In 2004, Anangu Tours was awarded the Legacy World Tourism Award.
ATG Oxford is an independent tour operator that specialises in walking holidays worldwide. Founded in 1979 on principles of environmental conservation and sustainability, the objectives of ATG Oxford are to ensure environmental best practice throughout its activities, to "give something back" by undertaking conservation projects in the areas visited, and to involve clients, suppliers, local communities and staff in the process of sustainable tourism.
BAOBAB is committed to small-scale, sustainable tourism in Africa that will provide customers with a personal insight into some unique destinations while being sensitive to local communities and the environment. Its itineraries and tailor-made trips combine activities (e.g. safari, scuba diving, cultural trips) and use local suppliers and locally run hotels, avoiding foreign-owned hotel chains whose profits disappear out of the country. This ensures that the money paid to suppliers stays within the host country and benefits the local economy.
Exodus Travel aims to benefit the host communities as much as possible. Exodus Travel believes that tourism can be a real help to local communities providing income, positive cultural exchanges and the financial incentive to protect the natural environment.
Moki Treks offers Native American tours for customers to discover the often misunderstood culture of North American Indians-from the Indians themselves. Indians help develop Moki itineraries that are steeped in authentic Native American life: food, storytelling, dance, song, craftmaking, even the chance to sleep in a tepee. Moki Treks purchases all food locally, contributes generously to the hosting tribes, and helps Indians protect their natural resources and preserve disappearing cultural practices.
PACHAMAMA, (a kechua word meaning 'Mother Earth') is a Peruvian company that promotes social and cultural responsible alternative tourism at national and international level through quality tourist offers, developed with the active participation of partners and beneficiaries communities.
Responsibletravel.com is an on-line travel agent launched in 2001 for travellers who want more real and authentic holidays that also benefit the environment and local people. Responsibletravel.com markets carefully pre-screened holidays from over 270 leading worldwide tourism brands and businesses.
Tribes Travel is an independent travel company based on Fair Trade principles that is located in Suffolk, England. Its aim is to become the market leader in sustainable and responsible tourism by providing a marketing platform for a number of community projects. An average of around 75% of the trip sale price goes to the host country, providing a source of income for local development projects, as well as electricity, fresh water, health and education in the local communities.
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Sustainable Tourism/Eco-Tourism Awards
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National Geographic Traveller magazine and Conservation International together launched the World Legacy Awards, a global campaign to promote environmentally, culturally, and socially responsible tourism practices across a wider spectrum of the tourism industry, with the goal of protecting the Earth's natural and cultural heritage.
The Responsible Tourism Awards recognize companies and organizations in the travel industry that are making a significant commitment to 'responsible' tourism - that is, projects which make a positive contribution to conservation and the economies of local communities, while minimizing any negative impacts of tourism. . The Awards are organized by the online travel agent responsibletravel.com .
Tourism for Tomorrow awards : Launched in 1991 by British Airways and, since 2004, under the auspices of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Tourism for Tomorrow recognizes and promotes best practice in Travel & Tourism development around the world.
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Other Links
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