For the month of April’s ecotourism theme, I compiled an article on The Travel Word about tourism and the environment. I asked my colleagues at WHL Group the question, “What is Tourism’s Biggest Threat to the Environment?” Answers were varied, but a few common themes came up.
Alternatives to Mega Cruise Ship Tourism
By Erinn Stam. Cruises contribute a disproportionate amount of waste when compared with other means of travel. The U.K.-based Climate Care estimates that cruise ships emit more carbon dioxide than long-haul flights. Eco-conscious travelers who still want to enjoy the cruise experience can choose from one of several alternative options.
Bolivian Highlights and Haircut Economics
Global tourism has a sly way of turning non-tradable goods into tradable ones. With enough tourism, a city like Cochabamba Bolivia can essentially ‘export’ non-tradables like restaurant meals and haircuts by selling them to travelers who are buying with foreign currency that they’ve exchanged. The implications are many, but this is part of why global tourism is generally considered to be a positive thing for local economies.
10 Fun Facts about the Island of Cyprus
by Carol Montrose of Aphrodite Hills. Although Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea, it’s a little bit like the kid who came from the milkman; it sort of looks like the rest of the family, but it definitely seems different. This could be because it rests at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and it has been overrun and ruled by many different nations.
An Invitation from Uzbekistan: Along the Great Silk Road
On May 30th I opened my email to find a very interesting message. It had been sent to all my colleagues in the whl.travel network as well. It was from our local business partners in Uzbekistan, who wrote: On behalf of the General Director “Afsona Travel” Saydaminova Shoista have the honor to invite you join our Fam Tour “Along the Great Silk Road.”
Climate Change and Sustainable Tourism: A Point/Counterpoint
Is climate change the biggest challenge to tourism sustainability in the 21st century? The academic Journal of Sustainable Tourism started this year off with a debate about climate change and sustainable tourism.
In The News: I’m a TIES Travel Ambassador
For the 12 months of 2011, the WHL Group’s Cynthia Ord has been designated a TIES Travel Ambassador. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the principles of ecotourism. Each year, TIES names 10 people as Travel Ambassadors, people selected to spread the word about tourism as a force for positive change.
Responsible Tourism Week 2011: An Unconference
One annual online event is Responsible Tourism Week. Ron calls it an “unconference,” an ongoing online event that encourages new global-level connections and local-level events. There’s no agenda, and no need for long haul flights or conference entrance fees. Just connect on various web2.0 platforms to contribute and follow.
