Making Tourism Sustainable

The challenge of the World Tourism Forum is to find ways to allow people to enjoy traveling around the world while at the same time limiting the negative impact to the environment and to local cultures caused by such activity. The greatest challenge facing humanity at the start of the 21st Century is to preserve the environment. Nature is a dynamic system where all the parts are interconnected. Mankind is part of the grand scheme, and yet acts in such a way as to destroy the very eco-system that he depends upon.

Carbon emissions in 2012 have reached 390 parts per million. On November 9th, 2011 the International Energy Agency published research showing that the 'door is closing'; and that unless we change our habits of energy consumption and carbon output we will be unable to prevent catastrophic climate change that will see sea levels rise, mass flooding, rapid species extinction (not experienced since the last Ice Age) and whole scale desertification.

At the same time economic activity (which includes tourism) is exhausting natural resources? fossil fuels, trees, water, marine resources, soil, minerals and plant resources are all being exhausted. With the world reeling from a severe economic downturn the temptation is to ignore calls for environmental responsibility (as shown in COP 17 meeting) and exploit natural resources even more to try and kick start ailing economies.

It is not just a matter of irresponsible use of natural resources that is making the present situation untenable, unsustainable; it is also pollution. Factories are polluting the air and water supplies, oil exploration is repeatedly polluting the sea and agricultural products are polluting the soil.

One of the biggest challenges for sustainable tourism is cultural pollution. As the world becomes a village small isolated communities in mountainous areas, by beaches and in forests have a growing contact with the outside world. As well as positive influences such as increased income there is also a tendency for these cultural units to be polluted by drugs, prostitution and the lure of easy money. Men stop fishing and do boat tours, women stop working the fields and become waitresses and sex workers. Children stop attending to their classes and take up begging and entertaining tourists. It is a sad pattern that can be seen all over the world.

At the same time tourism has become a consumer product. Too many people are taking planes, hiring cars, demanding air-con and willfully causing carbon emissions. The drive to 'up-grade' accommodation has resulted in too many swimming pools and golf courses all draining water resources and causing yet more carbon emissions.

The mission of World Tourism Forum is to find ways to allow people to travel without destroying the environment and without undermining local customs and ways of life. Since 2004 delegates have been meeting from all over the world to discuss ways to promote eco-tourism and to make tourism sustainable. Thousands of delegates from many countries gather to discuss the issues that beset their countries and to suggest ameliorative measures. Delegates come from the hotel industry, from NGOs, from conservation groups and from indigenous groups. According to Helene Rocques of the Sustainable Development for Accor Group, "It is possible to harmonize pleasure with sustainability".

Many initiatives have already been taken. Some more successful than others. These include encouraging governments to set up eco-tourist areas. One successful example of this is Koh Phangan in Thailand. 90% of the island's tree cover has been preserved by means of setting up National Parks and limiting building. As a result Koh Phangan has maintained its pristine natural environment and is now beginning to overtake the neighboring island of Koh Samui in terms of tourist numbers that has let unregulated development pollute beaches and cause wide scale deforestation. Tourists don't like the negative results that the temptation of the tourist dollar has caused and are looking for unspoiled natural beauty.

Another important area of sustainable tourism is nautical tourism. Diving, snorkeling, fishing and sailing have all in the past caused pollution, damaged coral reefs and depleted marine resources. Organizations such as government tourist ministries and regulatory bodies such as PADI continue to improve guidelines to make nautical tourism sustainable.

As people travel more they become jaded with the 'regular' tourist destinations and seek to go to more and more 'exotic' locations such as Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands. It is vital that systems be put in place to preserve these natural environments and the indigenous culture.

Finally, there is the unavoidable fact that airplane travel causes immense amounts of carbon emissions not just in flights but also in building airplanes. It is essential to encourage people to take more environmentally friendly types of transport where possible. It is also essential that airline companies are lobbied (as well as governments) to set up more rigorous strictures for off-setting. It is not just a matter of emitting less carbon but also of planting more trees and other carbon recyclers. The World Tourism Forum intends to bring all the major players together to make these things happen.

This website is intended as a resource for all those connected to the tourist industry. The articles herein introduce travel destinations and travel products and seek to encourage debate on how to make tourism sustainable. If solutions are not discussed and enacted foreign tourism could well go the way of the dodo.

The French Tourism board seem to have started a bit of a row with it’s latest campaign.  They have recently started to promote the D-Day beaches where the Allieds pushed back the Germans as a tourist attraction across the world.  However there is a problem which has upset many D-Day veterans especially the British ones. 

The problem seems to be that the campaign has completely omitted one of the five major landing points from the Allied attack. Sword Beach where almost 700 troops from the UK were killed or wounded has not been included at all.  It’s unusual as the campaign has a very historical feel to it – trying to create the ’secteur mythique’ which is one of the slogans used in the landings.  Also omitted is a part of Juno beach where the Canadians landed and some zones which were used for the inland drops.

Is this a deliberate snub or perhaps just the failings of a tourism campaign?  It would appear it’s just down to economics, the French want to focus on the other areas purely because of their tourism potential.  It is said that the commercial potential of the other areas is much higher than the less tourist orientated Sword Beach area.

There is another reason being raised and that is the tourism board which promotes the Sword beach area is not part of the conglomerate which is launching the campaign.  Whether this is true or not there is no doubt it has caused great offence to many – already a petition is being held online with several thousand signatures already.

Some of the controversy though is not understood in France and there is a debate being held over the issue.  If you read the French media and check in with the French online media – sites like the news on M6 replay are covering the discussion fairly regularly.  If you are outside France you may need to change your IP address by using a French proxy to hide your real location to use some of the sites like M6 Replay.

 

Considering taking out a loan to finance your next holiday trip?  Consider using online tools such as this Payment Calculator to understand the repayment terms of your loan.

Keeping track of account balances at the end of each term is something that you must do for any loan that you are responsible for. However, this requires a great deal of complex calculations that most people do not have the ability to do. If you feel that it is not within your understanding to take on this task alone, you are likely to put it off. Using the PaymentBot tool would allow you to keep track of any balances without having to worry about the information being accurate. Even people that understand how to do these calculations find themselves so limited when it comes to spare time that they simply do not keep track of the balances they are responsible for. Do not allow this to happen to you, enter your loan information into the PaymentBot calculator and you would be able to quickly and easily track your balances.

Also, PaymentBot would allow you to learn how much you would be spending on the property that you are going to be purchasing. When you are able to see this information, it would help you to make an informed buying decision. Many times, people that are just getting into the buying process would have the task of comparing different options from lenders. However, they do not know how to go about making these comparisons in a way that would be useful. When you find yourself in this position, you may want to head over to the PaymentBot website and enter all of the requested information. Once you have done so, you would have a better understanding of exactly what you would be responsible for with each loan. The inability to deal with serious financial issues is a problem many people have. However, this website will solve that with a simple calculator.

Of the five senses it is perhaps the sense of sight that is most affected by traveling. This is no doubt why photography remains one of the main ways for people to record their experiences while abroad. Places that appeal to our sense of sight inspire us. We travel thousands of miles to see amazing natural landscapes, stunning architecture, vibrant market scenes and the dazzling colors of the natural world. All of this is perhaps so obvious that it is often overlooked by those who comment on the subject of world tourism.

Those whose businesses rely on tourism often no instinctively the power of colors to entice customers into their restaurants, shops and hotels. One of the most notable things I noticed while traveling around South America was the use of vibrant and rich colors to decorate houses, guest houses and hotels. Often cheap backpacker places made their establishments seem more appealing and luxurious than they really were just by using oranges, yellows and greens on selective interior walls.

It is not just the lower end tourist spots that use color successfully. It is also the high end places, especially boutique places. Take for example, Shanghai Mansion located in the heart of Chinatown in Bangkok. It is an award winning hotel that has a jazz bar, water garden and features antique furniture. It is a themed hotel that uses motifs from 1930s Shanghai style.

However, one ofr the stand-out apsects of the hotel is the clever use of color throughout the hotel. The rooms look spectacular using orange, turquoise, olive greens, terracotta, red and yellow. It might sound garish but the interior designs bring all these colors together into a harmonious whole. The colors make guests want to linger in their rooms and in public spaces. Putting aside all the luxury facilities of the Shanghai Mansion Hotel it is perhaps this daring use of color that really defines this hotel and makes it so successful.

In cotnrast many big chain hotels use muted pastel colors. Often the colors run throughout the building and create a drab uniformity. This might reassure some people, but for others it reveals a lack of thought and definitely doesn’t inspire people to take out their camera and capture the moment.

To see more of the colors of Shanghai Mansion check out the Bangkok Boutique Hotels Facebook Page.

One of the greatest advantages of owning an iPhone is the fact that it comes in handy when you are on the go. Be it your office work or hobbies, there is a wide variety of apps that will assist you. Generally, iPhone apps make life easier. If one of your hobbies is travelling, then there are numerous apps that you can make your trip enjoyable. The iPhone apps have made tourism simple by offering vital information of many destinations in the word, including but not limited to weather patterns, maps, hotel and restaurants and flight information. If you are an ardent traveler, here are some iPhone apps that you need to download.

The Wi-Fi finder app- If you constantly travel abroad, then you already know how data charges can spoil your budget overseas. The best idea is using Wi-Fi instead of the expensive data charges tat come with the use of 3G. To save up on your travel costs, it’s good to download the free app which shows you thousands of Wi-Fi access points in over 140 countries worldwide.

Trip it is another essential app that you can download free of charge. The app allows you to access information on maps, restaurants and even directions whether you are online or offline.

Travel channel GO is a great 100% Free iPhone 5 app that allows to virtually tour your destination before hand. This tour will take you to the most attractive sites in the US and you are able to experience the trip before you board a plane.

Around me is an app that shows you essentials around you without having to search manually. The app. shows you gas stations, shops, ATMs and other things around you that you may need in a foreign land.

Finally, you have to download Yelp which is a great application when you want to find the best places to spend the night, party or eat. It comes complete with customer reviews and ratings for your convenience.

 

Botswana, one of Africa’s most secure nations, is the continent’s longest continuous multiparty democracy. It has a great human rights record and is comparatively free of corruption.

It’s also the world’s biggest producer of diamonds as well as the commerce has transformed it into a mid-income country.

Botswana shields some of Africa’s biggest areas of wilderness. Since it’s so dry, it’s sparsely populated. 

Botswana is attempting to lessen its economic reliance on diamonds, moving to improve employment and local company by supporting more worth to be added to diamonds locally.

There are some problems in the country, during the problems in Zimbabwe it has been swamped with illegal immigrants seeking to escape the rule of Robert Mugabe.  There is also a real problem with HIV-AIDs infection, in fact it has one of the highest infection rates anywhere in the world.

Some estimates have suggested that as many as one in three adults in the country is infected with the virus.   It does have an advanced treatment programme in place though and there are no shortages of anti-viral drugs to treat the condition.  The high rates mean that there are many orphaned children though and the life expectancy in the country is extremely poor despite the economic success.

If you’re looking for a luxury safari holiday though, Botswana is a great choice.  They have some wonderful safari parks in addition to a safe and stable government. They get many visitors from all over Europe in particular from Germany. I visited some years ago from a holiday based in Zimbabwe (in better times) – Botswana was a wonderful place.  They have even invested in some decent internet infrastructure, get yourself a fake IP from somewhere and you can even watch the latest David Attenborough documentary on your laptop at the same time.


Being successful in your current academic pursuits will lead to more economic success annd in turn more opportunities for travel and tourism.  Use a GPA calculator to ensure your current academic success.

Just twenty years ago, going to college was a big deal for many families because opportunities were scarce. However, today, access to tertiary education has increased and attaining a college education is not as difficult. Now that so many people are able to get college degrees, academic success is even more important. Young people have start preparing for university from the time they enter high school. When they get to college, ranking high on the GPA calculator, the right attitude and being well rounded are what makes them truly successful.

Preparing for University Early
High school students should be encouraged to start thinking about a career from early so that they can research information about their intended field of study. They can also take the necessary high school courses that will prepare them for college level study.

Getting Good Grades
Getting good grades in college is very important. Students have to prepare for classes and ensure that assignments are completed in a timely manner. They should aim for a 3.0 average or higher on the GPA calculator. Students should also seek a tutor if they find that they are failing a class.

Having the Right Attitude
College students need to have the right attitude to be able to excel in their tertiary studies. One cannot look at college as just a hobby, especially with the rising cost of tuition and the burden of student loans. Students have to stay focused and not let anyone or anything distract them from doing their best.

Being Well-Rounded
Students have to focus on their academics but also need to be involved in other community based activities. Employers always look to see what a student’s personal interests are. Students do not have to join five organizations or enlist for several causes, but they should consider at least one activity, especially if it is related to their field of study.

College students have to work hard to be successful. It takes encouragement from their family and alignment with other students who also want to succeed. Ranking high on the GPA calculator will certainly gain them access to the best jobs.

Travel destinations are good when we want refreshments. We look for a place wherein we can enjoy together with our families and friends. So, looking for an eco-tourism spot would be a best choice. There are numbers of travel destinations where we can choose and the best choice is to look for a tourist spot where we can unwind and leave all the office works and enjoy the trip. It is nice to have a break out of our daily routine. Hvad koster et Nyt Tag would be a recommended travel destination wherein you can surely forget all your problems at home. Having a dull routine needs to have a break and this helps to lessen the headaches that we always carry. It is normal that we experience problems because it is a part of our life. But let this problem be a problem and never interfere the happiness of our lives. Traveling is a perfect opportunity in meeting new people and to widen your perspective into this world. You need to relax; you don’t need to in prison yourself with the vast paper works in your office. Choosing a travel plan for eco-tourism destination would be a great choice and a decision.    

Hvad koster et Nyt Tag is a travel plan wherein you can lend to a memorable travel experience that will benefit you until the rest of your life and so as with your family. Making the wrong decision, on the flip side, not planning appropriately can ruin your enjoyment and fun. An eco-tourism travel destination is a great choice to unwind. Traveling in an eco-friendly destination and eco-tourism destination would surely make you travel vacation perfect and memorable. As vacationers, you need to look for a destination wherein you would enjoy the place and would make your travel expenses and experience worth it. When you are still having a plan to travel in a place for unwinding and also to witness a perfect eco-tourism, then you must seek places wherein it is ideal to travel and to spend your vacation.      

For environmental awareness, Hvad koster et Nyt Tag would be a best spot. The future of our ecological treasures become more ambiguous, an eco-tourism and new brand of travel is increasingly famous. Eco-tourism touches about travel to pristine, fragile and usually protected areas. There are eco-tourism programs that take several forms whether they designed to educate the vacationer, economically develop, provide funds for conservation and politically empower local societies. Eco-tourism initiatives and programs are intended to lessen negative environmental aspects. It is a good news that choosing eco-tourism travel destination doesn’t only promotes its advantage to man’s life but how it helps make our enjoyment and fun be a perfect event that happens into our lives. Picking a good eco-tourism travel destination would make your vacation perfect and memorable. Of course, it doesn’t just make you relax but also you will and can witness how wonderful the world if it is taken good cared properly. Planning your travel destination before the day of your vacation would make your dream trip perfect.      

 

 

 

Different  forms of tourism go through spells of popularity and at the moment we are seeing quite a lot of people interested in travelling the world and sampling the Whisky distilled in that country. 

The Scottish tourism industry sees a great deal of its business through either golf or whisky enthusiasts. With many distilleries that offer tours and tasting experiences as well as dedicated festivals throughout the year, people that make the journey to Scotland to find out more about Scotch Whisky will not be disappointed.

Of course there is a great more to see and do in Scotland than just explore your whisky interests and that is why the Scottish tourism board has been pulling out all the stops to ensure landmarks and places of interest are at their best. With a lot of interest coming to the British Isles following the London Olympics it is seen as the perfect opportunity to capitalise and show that Scotland has a lot to offer.

Making the most of the popularity of both Golf and Whisky goes into an existing market and will make sure Scotland remains one of the most popular tourist destioinations in Europe.

 

California wine country isn’t the first spot that many people think of them they consider eco tourism, is it?

Of course, you can visit California’s historic wine regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma without destorying a huge aspect of the environment if you are smart about your trip.  To start, there is a Napa Valley wine train which can take you from just outside of San Francisco into the center of Napa Valley.  As we all know, trains tend to be much more environmentally efficient than driving your own passenger car and let’s be honest, these trains are running with or without you on it-so it makes sense to take the available ride don’t you think?

Secondly, most wineries in the area are more likely to be environmentally efficient in terms of how they generate power.  Almost every winery in Napa has solar panels and some are even 100% geothermal, which comes at a great cost but also makes them among the most efficient businesses around anywhere!

The last 10 years I’ve spent traveling in Central America.  I’ve been using several guidebooks to help me choose the best spots to visit, find good quality accommodations and uncover the ’best’ experiences. 

They all directed me along a similar path.  Now well worn.  From beachfront town to colonial city to volcano to island to nature reserve.  I can see why these places are on the list of must see destinations.  They all have an inherent natural appeal.  A waterfall perhaps, or a pretty beach, some nice architecture or a rare animal.  Well worth seeing.

But most of the destinations share another thing in common.  They’re now filled with roving backpackers in search of authenticity.  Precisely the kind of original cultural nuance that the crowds of backpackers are fast rubbing out.

So far from experiencing something authentic, all the backpackers are doing is roving around in packs of people just like themselves.  They meet up in hostels, share tips of places to go, form groups to explore the location and so the circle continues. 

The same pattern seems to be playing out time and time again.  A new location is found.  Perhaps by a pioneering surfer.  An adventurous backpacker or an insistent travel writer.  These first visitors brave the bumpy roads, the lack of accommodations and poor services.  But they share the news of what they have found.   Soon a momentum starts.  The first guidebooks start to cover the place.  Local entrepreneurs respond to the tourist influx by starting travel companies, restaurants, surf rentals – whatever seems to be in demand.  A developer comes into town and builds a smart hotel, hoping that the backpacker demographic will slowly morph into a higher paying visitor. 

Then the real estate dollars start to flow.  And the marketing campaigns start.  Now travel writers are wined and dined when they arrive.  Package tours start up, house prices rise and things start to get noisy.  Every step of the way something is lost.