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September 29, 2009

Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria and Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council Merge to Form Tourism Sustainability Council

The Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) and the Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC) announced their official merger on 21st September 2009. Read More

Erika Harms of the UN Foundation talks to Valere Tjolle about the merger: www.travelmole.tv/watch_vdo.php

September 28, 2009

Fair Trade Certification of Voluntourism?
This past week, Free Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) posted a press release on its website entitled “Meaning Well Is Not Always Enough.” Building on the work of Voluntours SA (South Africa) and its Code of Good Practice, the press release discusses FTTSA’s movement toward, what it hopes to be, certification of three voluntourism operators in South Africa by April 2010... Read More

September 27, 2009

Tourism plays key role in preserving world's rich diversity, says UN official
Tourism can play a vital role in preserving the rich cultural and natural diversity across the world by promoting sustainable development and global understanding, says a senior United Nations official. In a message for World Tourism Day, the acting head of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) noted that while globalization can be a means to improve economic collaboration and understanding, it cannot come at the cost of diluting the world's rich cultural diversity... Read More

September 24, 2009

The Committed Consumer

Picture this: You're on a luxury cruise ship about to transit the Suez Canal. An auction onboard the ship is offering the highest bidder the chance to join the ship's captain on the bridge for the canal transit. Now imagine that the money raised from the auction will buy enough oral rehydration salts to save the lives of 33,000 children in a developing country... Read More

September 23, 2009

Interview with authors of "Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World"

Richard Hammond and Jeremy Smith have long believed that experiential journeys are also the kindest to the natural environment and the local culture. Hammond is the Guardian’s eco-travel writer and the founder of the low-impact travel guide The Green Traveller, while Smith is the former editor of The Ecologist magazine. The two traveled the world for years to search for largely undiscovered locales...Read More

September 22, 2009

Gap Adventures Honored for Making a Difference in the World
CEO and Founder Bruce Poon Tip of Gap Adventures, the world's leading small group adventure tour operator, was honored with the World Savers Award for '2009 Winner: Tour Operator' during the third annual Conde Nast Traveler World Savers Congress in New York City yesterday. Read More

September 20, 2009

New Airline Tax Set to Help Developing World

Many airline travelers, already irritated by compulsory surcharges may simply ignore it. But behind this call for a voluntary contribution is an unprecedented worldwide effort to make up a shortfall in official government aid to poor countries... Read More

September 16, 2009

Key Events Mark UNWTO Agenda for the Remainder of the Year

With World Tourism Day (Accra, Ghana) , the UNWTO General Assembly (Astana, Kazakhstan) and the annual Minister’s Summit (London, UK) all planned for the remainder of this year it promises to be a busy few months for UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization). Read More

September 15, 2009

2009 World Tourism Award Honorees Announced

Tourism Cares, Gap Adventures and Cyrene, Libya are the 2009 World Tourism Award Honorees. This prestigious award will be presented at World Travel Market Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at Excel Centre, London. Inaugurated in 1997 and celebrating its 12th Anniversary, was established to recognize “the extraordinary initiatives by individuals, companies, organizations, destinations and attractions for outstanding accomplishments in the travel industry.” Read More

September 14, 2009

Honeyteering: Increasingly More Newlyweds opt for "Honeyteering"Vacations
Many newlyweds opt for candles, champagne toasts and rose-petal-covered beds, but Meghan Courtney and Rich Shaner had a different idea of romance. Their honeymoon was a little dirty. And sweaty. And exhausting. And not at all what you're thinking... Read More

September 10, 2009

Partnership for Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria and Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council Announce Merger to Form Tourism Sustainability Council

The result will be a new initiative that will launch in 2010 called the Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC), a global membership council that will offer a common understanding of sustainable tourism and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles and criteria. Read More

September 9, 2009

Geotourism Challenge Winners Announced!

The worldwide competition with over 600 entries from 81 countries has come to a close. Judges selected 10 finalists and voters chose the final three winners: PEPY Volunteer & Educational Tourism, Cambodia, Wikiloc Community Maps, Spain, and Nature Air, Costa Rica...Read More

September 7, 2009

Voluntourism.org Founder David Clemmons, Answers Some Tough Questions on Voluntourism

In 2003, when David Clemmons launched Voluntourism.org, a Web site to educate about volunteer travel opportunities around the world, the term “voluntourism” was known mostly to intrepid do-gooders, Peace Corps volunteers and backpackers who wanted to get involved in the far-flung communities they were visiting... Read More

September 7, 2009

Vulnerable Nations Highlighted in Climate Change Index

Norway, Finland, Japan, Canada and New Zealand are the countries best placed to weather the effects of climate change, while Africa hosts 22 of 28 “extreme risk” countries... Read More

September 3, 2009

Voluntourism Effective Practice Guidelines Published

Volunteer Tourism Effective Practices is designed for tour operators who are looking to or already incorporating volunteer projects into their trips. Additionally, we hope it will also serve development organizations, volunteer tourism participants and community members in helping to identify and engage in great volunteer projects...Read More

September 2, 2009

Geotourism Challenge Finalists Announced

The worldwide competition is coming to a close. On Sept 9 the winners will be announced. Check out the list of finalists from airlines to community mapping to voluntourism initiatives... Read More