  |
||||||
|
|
Benchmarking Eco Tourism and Volunteer TravelSustainable and Responsible Tourism Organizations
As Eco Tourism and Volunteer Travel are becoming more popular, the question is often asked, what kind of benchmarking is there?
So how do you know whether your so-called Eco Tourism company is legitimate? Does it really practice the Fair Trade principles it preaches? Is it ripping off the trusting locals? How can you make sure that when you book or become involved in an organization that claims to participate in responsible travel that you are not being taken for bumpy ride that leaves a heavy carbon footprint? Is there any kind of benchmarking or oversight in this niche market? Growing Popularity of Responsible TravelWith niche markets like eco tourism and volunteer travel becoming increasingly popular, it is inevitable that some unscrupulous operators would want to jump on the bandwagon and cash in on the growing popularity of responsible travel. Two organizations that provide a first step toward sorting the haves from the have-nots are the International Society of Sustainable Travel (TIES) and Sustainable Travel International (STI). Membership of one or both of these is a good sign that a tour company or travel agent is making an effort to becoming a committed “greenie.” The International Society of Sustainable Travel (TIES)The International Society of Sustainable Travel (TIES) says it is committed to promoting the principles of ecotourism and responsible travel. Regarded as the world's oldest and largest ecotourism organization, TIES has members in 90 countries and it “seeks to be the global source of knowledge and advocacy uniting communities, conservation, and sustainable travel.” Sound Eco Tourism DevelopmentAccording to its website, this is a non-profit, non-governmental and multi-stakeholder association, TIES claims to be unique in its efforts to provide guidelines and standards, training, technical assistance, research and publications to foster sound eco tourism development. TIES has various levels of membership that provide organizations travels, students NGO’s Ecotourism experts, governments, travel agents, tour organizers and journalists from accessing important material, information and statistics about eco tourism, and sustainable and responsible travel. Definition of Eco-Tourism according to TIES"Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." (TIES, 1990) Sustainable Travel InternationalThe Sustainable Travel International is located in Boulder, Colorado, USA and claims to promote responsible travel and eco tourism; support sustainable development, and help travelers and travel providers protect the cultures and environments they visit. According to the details on their website, STI, which was founded in 2002, is a non-profit organization, “dedicated to providing education and outreach services that help travelers, travel providers and related organizations support environmental conservation and protect cultural heritage while promoting cross-cultural understanding and economic development.” Travelers PhilanthropySTI believes in travelers giving back. In addition, it seems like many travelers believe it too and they line up to become involved in grassroots programs where they can enjoy a vacation and make a difference at the same time. Voluntourism Started with the PeacecorpsIn many ways, volunteer tourism or voluntourism probably started in the 1960s with the Peace Corps who believed that volunteers could serve their country by living and working in developing countries and assisting in the peace process. Today Volunteer Tourism or Voluntourism is a legitimate and growing player in the leisure travel market. Eco Tourism Benchmarking or NotAlthough neither STI nor TIES offers any guarantees or comebacks – it is a good sign if tour companies or tour organizations that promote eco tourism or volunteer travel are members of at least one of them. It shows a connection to a network and to resources, training and peers, which most travelers should find reassuring.
The copyright of the article Benchmarking Eco Tourism and Volunteer Travel in Volunteer & Eco Adventures is owned by Karen Lotter. Permission to republish Benchmarking Eco Tourism and Volunteer Travel in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|||||
|
|
||||||
