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promoting responsible tourism
10Nov2010
ISSUE FOUR • NOVEMBER 2010
O cial Sponsor
the face of joafter despai
Joyce.
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Silent
There’s another side to our world, though. And this one has a much quieter, but nonetheless,
important voice. The continuing challenges and problems of the world have led many of us
to believe that there must be another way. An alternative means of ensuring that travel and
tourism remain as top economic drivers for future generations.
I like to call this the ‘Silent Revolution’ because the voices that are raised globally are not strident or
piercing but they are just as penetrating and heartfelt for all that. Spotlight is an example of this Third
Way. Its pages are crammed full with people whose dedication, hopes and beliefs are a shining example
of just what can be achieved.
Since Spotlight was launched four years ago to coincide with WTM World Responsible Tourism Day in
association with the UNWTO, there has been a small but definite shift in the opinion of not only the
industry, but also consumers.
Perhaps the global events of the pas t few years have had something to do with it. Or it mi ght just be
that people are sickened by the endless waste, the continuing destruction of our
beautiful landscapes, the gradual decline of our wildlife and the suffering of
communities who should be at the centre of much of what travel and tourism
undertakes.
An informed, caring but dynamic and highly successful travel and tourism
industry can play such a critical part in helping all of us to hold our heads up
and look the next generation in the eye.
More people than ever before are not only taking notice of responsible
tourism, but are beginning to accept that the industry has a duty to maintain
and protect all that is relevant to the business of travel and setting in place
appropriate strategies at boardroom level.
Some readers take a copy home with them, sharing it with
colleagues and friends. Others read it online through the WTM
World Responsible Tourism Day website www.wtmwrtd.co.uk.
Enjoy Spotlight Magazine and its unique style.
Let it release passion and energy for a different, more sustainable
approach.
Happy reading!
Warmest best wishes,
Fiona Jeffery
Chairman, World Travel Market
RevolutionThe ‘noise’ of the world is deafening. Catastrophic
natural disasters, lack of water, austerity and
endless pictures of under-nourished children too
weak to eat or drink. Politicians talk, United Nations
leaders plead and many of us look on in dismay.
10Nov2010
For further information on how to get involved with WTM World Responsible
Tourism Day and to use the o cial WTM WRTD logo, log on to www.wtmwrtd.com
Contact co-ordinator Araminta Sugden on the WRTD hotline
telephopne: +44 (0) 1892 535943
Edited and produced by: Jane Larcombe Communications, Tidebrook,
East Sussex, UK +44 (0)1892 785071
Design and production by: The Creative Workshop
+44 (0)1580 212551 www.tcws.co.uk
Cont
02 TOP MANHe is highly motivated
04 CRY TIMBER!Chopping down red him up
06 TOUGH TESTRacing for a good cause
07 WEATHER FRONT Time to act is now
08 MOTHERLY PLANS Tackling the future carefully
10 NEVER SURRENDERAlways trying to beat the odds
11 KIND CUTMaking use of an unlikely crop
12 MAKING BIG WAVESA bridge over troubled waters
12 HOT STUFFCooking up a winner
13 KICKING ONAiming for bigger goals
14 TEAM PLAYERSFamily on a mission
16 PASTURES NEWEthiopia in a fresh light
18 SWEET TRIUMPHFrom cosmetics to travel
18 AWARDS PARADERecognition for getting it right
20 GALLOPING SUCCESSNomads land a tourist boost
21 WHAT A WORKERPotjana leads by example
22 HARD TALK Tony Juniper meets BBC’s Stephen Sackur
24 CHANGING COURSEAry shows a better way
26 BROTHERLY LOVEAfrica called them back
27 PARADISE FOUNDLinking luxury and decent standards
28 WELL VETTEDJenefer gives a helping hand
29 FULL OF HOPEShe’s out to turn the tide
30 BELOVED COUNTRYLiving a dream
32 DOWNHILL SAVIOURMy sport is not bad for us
33 HE LOVES LAURAEating up the miles together
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leven years ago, Fiona Jeery, Just a Drop founder and
hairman of World Travel Market, was shocked at the
elentless toll of misery.
ut a seed of an idea started to take shape when she
iscovered that the lives of millions of children could be
aved by relatively small amounts of money.
ealising the simple truth that just £1 ($US1.53 or €1.21)
an provide a child with clean water for ten years set
Fiona o on a desperate ght which she could never
have envisaged.
It’s a never-ending journey with countless travel,
hospitality and leisure companies, industry organisations,
tourist boards and professionals helping to raise money
for water projects wherever needed. With just two full-
time sta and an army of willing volunteers, Just a Drop
has helped more than one million children in 29 countries.
WestgatePrimarySchool incentral KenyaismuchlikeanyotherintheThirdWorld…250
oisy,livelyyoungsters,a thirstfor learningandometruly inspiring,dedicatedsta.
It is almost a year since a catastrophic earthquake ripped apart Haiti,killing more than 230,000 people in a few seconds of Hell on earth.
of £$€ turns to waterPoverty, disease, drought and a growing lack of safe water means
hat a child dies every 20 seconds somewhere in the world.
Youcanbecome a‘Friend’and donating$US3dollars a
monthoverayearcanprovidesafewatertoafamilyfor
life.Butthere’ssomuchmorethatcanbe donetoshow
supportasan individualorcompany.
Logontowww.justadrop.org forideasorcontactAna
Sustelo,JustaDropCoordinator on+44(0)2089107782
oremail [email protected]
There are many ways of helping Just a Drop
Turningtaps on
Still help Haiti
Hundredsofthousandsofsurvivorsstillliveinemergency
shelterslongafterdepartureofjournalistswhobrought
theattentionoftheworld.Unlessthecountryishelped
backonitsfeet,manymorewillsueranddie.
JustaDropisfocusedonhowtohelpconstructivelyin
eortstogivethesepeoplesomequalityoflife.
“Theemergencyservicesdidagoodjobimmediately
afterthequake,providingwaterpurifyingtablets,food,
shelter,medicinesandmuchmore.ButifHaitiistohavea
future,thentherealworkstartsnow,”saysFionaJeery.
“Wewanttoseepeopletakechargeoftheirlivesagain
throughagriculture, employmentand education.In
doingso,theiroverallprideandsenseofwellbeingwill
begradually restored.”
JustaDroplauncheditsJustHelpHaiticampaignwithin
hoursofthedisaster.Itstartedfundraisingsupported
bymanytopoperators,organisationsandtrademedia–
suchasAllLeisureGroup,Kuoni,ThomasCook,TUITravel,
InternationalInst itutefor PeaceThrough Tourism(IIPT),
TTGIncontri/TTGItalia,AdvantageTravelCentres,Hayes
&Jarvis, theEuropean TourOperators Association(ETOA),
PATAUK,NomadicThoughts, ANTOR,The Co-operative
TravelandBrighterPR.
TimKingham,JustaDropengineer,spenttendaysin
SeptemberassessingthesituationinHaiti,liaisingwith
reliefagenciesontheground.Thecharitywilldirectits
eortstohelpimprovethewatersuppliesforschoolsin
theareaofPortauPrince,thecapitalandlargestcity.
“Watersourcesareina stateofuxinHaitirightnow
andthereismuchthatJustaDropcandotomakea
dierence,”said Kingham.
Thecharityhasraisedmorethan£140,000fortheJust
HelpHaitifund–andthe entireamounthasbeenring
fencedtohelpthecountry.
Theappealisstillopenanddonationscanbemadeatwww.justadrop.org
assrooms,a kitchenand single-sexdormitories havesomehoweenacquiredforthosechildrenfromremoteareaswhowould
therwisebeunabletogetaneducation.Thefacilitiesarebasic,
utdothejob.
owever,there’s justone terrible,almost unimaginable
roblem…theschoolhasnocleanrunningwater.Notaps,no
oilets,nowashingorcookingwaterbutJustaDrophasthrown
heschool–andthechildren–a preciouslifeline.
hecharityisinstallingunpollutedwaterandsanitationsystem.
TheproblemsofdailylifeforWestgatearetypicalofthosethat
ustaDropcontinuallyhears,”saysFionaJeery,whovisitedthe
rojectinOctober.
Theschooliscloseto theEwaso Nyiro Riverwhichhasbeen
rtually dry forthepast threeyears.Shallowwellsaredugdaily
o sourceasmallamount of waterbut it isnothinglikeenough
orsu ciently cleanto keepthechildrenhealthy.
“Recently,theriverbegantoowagainwithnewrains.Butthiscausesfurtherdangersasitattractswildlife,occasionallywith
tragicresults.There’salsoariskofcontaminationfromdead
livestock. Thisconstant challengeof sourcingrelatively clean
waterconsumesanenormousamountoftimeandeort,”adds
Fiona,“restrictingtheschool’sabilitytoprovideaconsistentlevel
ofeducationwhichissovitaltothecommunity.”
CommanderChrisMahony,RN,leadingtheprojectonbehalf
ofJustaDrop,saidthatalltheworkisbeingcarriedoutby
thevillagersandthereforehasthedoublebenetofcreating
employment.
“Keycostsinphaseoneisthepurchaseofa pumpandecopower
sources,”hesaid.“Thesecondpartoftheprojectwilltakeplacein
February2011when wewill completethe villageinfrastructure
andinstallmuchneededwatertothemedicalcentre.” SPOTLIGHT2010
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Gavin Bate almost died on Everest in
2007. He owes everything to PasangTendi
Sherpa, who has an incredible nine
summits to his name.
“I was 100 metres below the peak
trying to do a non-stop, oxygen-less,
north-south crossing of Everest when
I contracted a pulmonary oedema. I
was sure to die because the liquid in my
lungs was spilling out of my mouth and
asphyxiating me.
“Pasang was following, found me, gave
me oxygen and helped me o the
mountain, saving my life.”
Gavin’schoiceof attackingEverestalpine
styleminusbreathing apparatushasgiven
hima uniqueinsightinto thedeath zone.
He explains his climbing passion: “In
itself, standing on top of a mountain is
selsh and quite pointless – also one of
it’s attractions – but even with Everest
I felt I needed an added motivation to
reach the top. Moving Mountains charity
gave me that.”
He climbed
Sherpas. Bu
The friend a
a kneecap a
summit on
three di c
while carry
He lead the
part of his a
Briton to as
the contine
turned bac
when his te
In 2005, alo
without ox
1953 Base C
other camp
the summit
touching it
queue. He r
truly stood
Last year hi
and minus
oxygen
back.
Eve
is
A
–
m
a
of
Gav
me, t
bei
ou
po
Everestlife-saver
to exist. It might lack facilities but isn’t chaotic.
People worked well together, didn’t wish to
be patronised with handouts. They wanted to
learn how to improve themselves and have that
sense of pride and self-esteem.. It showed me
how I could make a real difference.”
“The greatest moments of my life have been
the friendships gained from running Adventure
Alternative. For me, responsible travel is all
about relationships. My employees are my best
friends, my children, my family if you like.
“I have made personal connections, directly or
indirectly, with every employee. I feel it is my
duty to look after them. Ultimately my strategy
is about offering them the same privileges as
my UK staff.”
The Himalayas have lured him for 18 years
and when free of his crampons and ice axe
he has relished valuable enriching time
staying in Sherpa villages. He has marvelled as
hydro-electric power stations, water networks,
schools, monasteries and clinics rose up
through the MM charity and management skills
he passed on.
“This co-operative endeavour has completely
reversed the exodus of young people who
can now obtain jobs in businesses, such as tea
plantations, education and healthcare for their
kids.”
All the regional staff is paid permanently even if
there are no customers. It is a company pledge
to provide full time employment.
“Nowthereismorethanenoughworktogo
roundandtheclientsvaluetheirenhanced
experienceandthesheerhappinessofthestaff.
“If you have no contact with the porters,
cooks and guides who ensure your holidays
are wonderful then they can become just a
number on a budget sheet.
“My approach is always to make the effort
to visit them in their home village, to take an
interest in their future and livelihoods. They
enjoy being involved rather than having
a business model they don’t understand
imposed on them.
“Thousands of street children have benefitted
from the Moving Mountains programme and a
few are in university. The back-up for children
and families ranges from counsellors and
advisors, to football clubs, project and grant
teams and even welfare providers.
“We have schools, early child development
centres, clinics, orphanages, homes and
community centres all over Kenya – all self-
supporting, with many receiving an income
from the company through tourism, gap
students and volunteers.
“Each client represents a sum of money to
contribute to the network. While this is not a
new idea, our management and
implementation is different. Committees have
been taught how to manage finance and
develop themselves. There are strictly upheld
principles of transparency, to a point where the
pride comes from just how honestly it is
managed.”
Bateconcludes:“I thinkthattheway Iintegrate
thecharitywiththecompanycanberolled
outeasilyintoatemplateforotherfirms.It
justtakes thewill tochange.
A lot of it is about redistributing
some gross profit, creating a
structure in which to spend
that money in a way which will
properly allow development.”
‘.. .it ’s still tremendouslyfullling to watchsomebody grow into ane upstanding citizen.’
solicitorbutbeingonthebreadlineforcedhimtobecomea
mountainporter.Thatishowhe metGavin,whotrainedand
employedhimasatrekkingguide.
HeistodayadirectorofAdventureAlternativeNepalandMoving
MountainsNepalandhelivesinNewJersey,USA,withhiswife
Lakhpaandtheirthreechildren.
Batesays:“MovingMountainstookhiskidsallthewaytoUS
collegelevel.Chhongbaisstillaguideanddevelopscommunity
conceptvillageprojects–thelatestbeingtodevelopalarge
waterirrigationsysteminthelowerHimalayawhichisfundedby
MM.Again,AAwillprovidethebusinessmodel
andthemanagementtrainingtoallowhim
thisopportunity. Ultimatelythis ishis dream
comingtrue,I’mjustimplementingit.Far
betterthataSherparatherthanmebetheface
ofprogressivedevelopmentinNepalIthinkthat
charitiesshouldhandovertheirprojects
morethantheycurrentlydo,andlet
thelocalsbethearchitectsof
theirown success.”
C hhon gba
Chhongbaand Gavin–beforehetriedthemask!
–
S
e has confronted breathless danger while tackling the majestic Mount Everest ve times; walked
cross the Sahara Desert and India; dodged bullets in Somalia and Rwanda. Nothing, though, stirs his
drenalin more than helping society cast-os escape poverty and accomplish extraordinary feats.
G
avin Bate makes Superman look like
a weekend amateur, according to
the many people whose lives he has
sformed.
e views it rather more modestly. “I’ve just
d to do things right according to my beliefs.
wed while scrapping ships in India, China
Pakistan in the early 90’s, that any company
would give workers career opportunities,
damental rights, a full-time salary and the
nce to develop, regardless of their class or
cation.
w the gaping disparity between a Western
mmodity like scrap steel with the earning
wer of an illiterate guy on a beach.
ereas the vessel itself yielded millions of
ars on the global market, the thousands of
n who carved it up into sheets in incredibly
gerous conditions received 50 cents a day
not a single protective benefit.”
Some 18 years ago Bate, whose first love is
climbing, formed Adventure Alternative which
now operates in tandem with the Moving
Mountains charity that he founded while living
on and off for six years in the slums of Nairobi.
Experiencing first hand how badly pear-shaped
things can go in the Aid s ector, Bate resolved to
run MM on a system of integrity and effi ciency,
with no administrative costs.
“Driving trucks under fire to refugee locations
for big organisations was scary enough without
the frustration of clerical errors. For example,
I once delivered 2,000 hot water bottles to a
desert camp.
“Iwanted toestablish clearaccountability
andmanagementstrategywithmycharity
anddevelop self-ownershipthrough long
commitmentto educationand training.”
Hehas raisedapproaching £600,000through
hisdaredevildeedsinthepast10years,recently
leadinga mountaineeringexpeditionto China
wherepartofthepassagewasbycamel.
But he is adamant: “My biggest achievement
is seeing all my employees around the
world develop into competent, confident
personalities with children of their own whom
they know will never fall into the black hole
traps that they encountered in their own lives.
“I wanted tourism to give them that whereas so
often it doesn’t. Sometimes you look at where
the money goes and it’s obviously not to local
communities and workers.”
One of four brothers, 44-year-old Gavin is uncle
to five children. But he’s ‘Dad’ and ‘Godfather’
to many people in Nepal and Kenya.
“My lifestyle has meant sacrifices, not least
spending life as a bit of a nomad, but it’s still
tremendously fulfilling to watch somebody
grow into a fine upstanding citizen.”
After studying psychology and English in
Belfast, he has kept a home in Northern Ireland,
despite sometimes travelling for seven or eight
months a year.
His ‘itchy feet’ have carried him to about 200
countries but he concedes that traversing the
Sahara from north to south aged 21 was a “bit
foolish.” The six-month journey included a spell
detained in jail by Algeria as a suspected spy.
“The years travelling and working in developing
countries is at the heart of my interest in
levelling the equation between investor and
beneficiary, particularly in the tourism sector.
I see this as a moral code. I just followed my
nose, and did what came naturally.
“My home in the Nairobi slums was a two-room
shack in a forested area. It was frugal but I
considered my neighbours as friends and
fellow humans.
“I learnt to speak Swahili and sampled the
sub-strata of society which enables a ghetto
LY KIOKO was acutelitt lenine-year-oldurchin
ar withabigsmile– but undoubtedlydoomedfor the
hs ofgluesniffi nganddrugs –when hetriedtopickGavin’s
pocket oneday. “I felt his handinmy pocket,”says Bate.
moment changedhis life. I tookhimtothe slumschool
eI was teaching.”
y,17yearson,KellyisDirectorofAdventureAlternativeKenya,
emanages26full-timestaff –24whowerestreetkidsfrom
theslums–plusaseasonal
forceofmorethan50.Hesits
onseveralcommittees,isa
trusteeof MovingMountains
Kenyaandregularlyfliesto
Londonfor training.
“Marriedthis year,he
appreciateshischildrenwill
neverhavetogothrough
thesametoil,”saysGavin.
“Heseeshimselfasliving
proofofthepowerofhardwork,andliterallyasthefutureofhis
country,one nottainted bycorruption.
“He’samodelwitharippleeffect.WhenKellytalks,thekidslisten
inawaytheywouldn’tifitwereme.Youonlyhavetolookin
wonderathimamongthemtounderstandhisinfluence.”
Kelly,27,says:Gavusedtotellmeatage3yearsthatonedayI
wouldbeadirector.HeisamanofhiswordsandIandmanyother
beneficiariesarethesuccessstoryofhiswork.
“IfIweretowriteeverythingabouthimitwouldtakeabookbutit
wouldn’tendtherebecauseIknowhehasmorethingsplanned.”
ROSIE GATHIRIMU,29,marriedwithathree-year-old
daughter,says:”MbuyuisGavin’snametomeandallthechildren
inKenya.ItmeansFather.
“Meetinghimwasthemajorturninmylife,”shesays.“Iwason
thewaytothestreets;atthecrossroads.Hepointedmeinthe
rightdirection,supportedandbuiltmetomypositionnowandI’m
forevergrateful.”
TodaysherunsMovingMountainsKenya,isaqualifiedNGO
managerandsocialworker.Shealsoregularly
visitstheUKandattendscommitteemeetings
fororganisations likeFairTrade Volunteering
–setupbyBateand otherlike-minded
businessmen–andTourismConcern,the
charitythatfightsexploitationinglobal
tourism.Rosieadds:“I’mamazedtolookback
andappreciatethevisionhehadallthoseyearsago.Hehadbelief
inmewhenI wassowoundupwithproblems,suchasmymother
almostbeingjailedfordebts.”
Hetoldhershewouldtaketenyearsbutfinishupspearheading
supporttowards childrenthroughout Kenya.
“Leadershipwasa thingformen,” sherecalls.”It wasatough ride
toreachhere.Thewomen’sroleinKenyaisstillverysubservient.
AlthoughIwassmartIhadnohope,nofundstogotocollege.Gavin
changedthatformeandmysister.Bothofusarenowgivingtothe
communitytheskillswegainedfromGavin,schoolandlife.”
Rosie’sparentshadno incomeforfoodand rent.Sheworked
weekendsface– paintingkidsat localbarsand restaurants.Any
moneyleftoverwent
towardsschoolfeeswhich
shesharedwithherbrother.
“Itwasamixtureattimes
ofbeinginschoolforaweek
andanotherathomesoI
couldraisemorecash.”
SomegirlsRosieknew
lurchedintodrugs,
prostitutionandcrime.She
stayedstrongdespitewhile
atvolunteercamphavingtosleepseventoasingleroomhouse12ftx
12ft.Herbedwasachair,the“mattress”apileofclothes.
Rosiesays:“AtthecampsiteImetallthe childrenfromthestreet
whohadevenlessthanme.”Laterinanotherroleshesleptonthe
schoolcorridorwiththekids.
Gavinmarvels:“Shehasstruggledagainstachauvinist,prejudicial
atmosphereintourismbutwiththesheerweightofsupportfromus
shehasrodethestormandhernaturaltalenthasshonethrough.”
CHHONGBA SHERPA wassevenwhenhewalkedsix
daysbarefootfromhisvillagetotheHillarySchoolinKhumjung,
Nepal.Heprogressedtosecondaryschoolandaimedtobea
Moving Mountains
Wecall himFa ther
K elly
R osie
Spotlight on Kenya
Thrills,passion,danger–allwork iftohelp children
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It was 2.15am outside Cairo Airport
when shocked Chris Warren felt a
grasping hold on his arm. It was Aussie
backpacker Sophie Ewin.
Clearly, she was frightened of being alone.
They are now locked together in a green
embrace, married 18 years, survivors of some
tumultuous times. Grit and determination
marks them out.
Deciding not to kick its heels waiting for
government to lead, Kangaroo Valley thinks
globally, acts locally, and aims to be the
world’s rst destination to achieve carbon
neutrality.
Chris, classied as dyslexic at 13, earned a
living on a loading bay and driving before
putting himself through college.
From marketing, advertising, journalism and
PR he began his own enterprises with o ces
in London, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
When newly wed, Sophie was stranded in
Egypt – waiting 18 months to obtain a visa
to join Chris in Saudi Arabia. She used the
solitary hours to learn Arabic.
Sophie, 40, and Chris spent ve years
moulding Crystal Creek Meadows, 150k
south of Sydney, into such shape that it has
won both the Australian Tourism
Awards for hosted accommodation
and sustainability.
They buy in green-generated electricity,
recycle water and waste and oset with
tree planting.
Australia confronts the frontline of climate
change – risk of bushres and drought,
soaring temperatures and cyclones.
Since last May Warren has conducted a series
of presentations around the country.
He says: “A lot of people in Australia want to
change. We are trying to show it isn’t hard.
“Tourism makes a major contribution to
energy use here so it is appropriate for us
to respond now. It is very di cult for those
living in cities to comprehend climate change
– it is intangible to them. But if you live in the
country it is a very evident issue.”
In seeking a secure future for their three
children– Max, 13, Samantha 12, and Christie,
six – the Warrens reacted ahead of the game.
From “naïve beginnings” Chris forged links
with an impressed leading company that
usually works on million dollar international
projects and was supplied with similar audit
tools to run a smaller version of a corporate
programme – calling it Green Kangaroo.
Within weeks 26 outts and 14 households
voluntarily enrolled. The numbers have
increased to a third of local tourist operators.
There have been carbon usage cuts from 50
to14 tonnes. Everything from reducing and
calculating footprints to sourcing funding
information can be done online.
Successful business examples include
Cloud Song (chalet accommodation)
Banksia Park (self-contained cottages)
Kangaroo Valley Safaris (canoe hire) Man
from Kangaroo Valley Horse Trail (activity)
and Jing Jo Cafė.
New Zealander Alison Baker, of Banksia Park,
says: “I think it is fair to say that had Chris not
introduced the whole concept of carbon
neutral, we would be still waiting for the
Australian government to come up with their
plan. I think the community here is all about
the next generation.”
Geo and Gail Fearon, who run horse trail
rides, say: “Many living here are attracted
because of its special environment; they
are concerned with preserving it. Chris
has crystallised a movement led, not by
politicians or a reliance on their directives,
but by individuals taking personal
responsibility NOW. I live on the land and I
have seen the climate changes over the past
10 years. “
Chris adds: “We are poorer as a people
without moral and ethical values. They are
the foundation to making sustainable social
change. Many local operators are already
applying their own philosophy.”
Former car salesman Glyn Stone, who
operates a canoe hire rm, led the ground-
breaking 2003 campaign for Kangaroo Valley
to become plastic bag free. He has now
moved on to replace petrol-driven vehicles
with energy e cient alternatives.
Cloud Song accommodation has been
generating excess solar power and diverting
it to the grid without expecting nancial
payback.
Bold and brash – just like the Aussies love
it – Chris once went to a council assembly
meeting and declared: “The Green Kangaroo
project is a wonderful demonstration of
community commitment. You need to
recognise that much more has to be done
and we nee
Aweeklate
doorstepw
approvedp
supplychai
toboycott p
standpipes
Chrisadds:“
supporting
approachto
thatisnow
throughou
“Local busin
competitio
are coming
strong with
performing
pride. From
grown that
reduce neg
collectively
“Authority
need to ret
and water r
extend the
nancial aid
“Everybody
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but we are
“We invite g
leave. We d
symbolic m
“It is the sor
Australians
population
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“When indi
that way it f
fail to be ho
‘It is very di cult for those living in cities tocomprehend climate change – it is intangible to them.But if you live in the country it is a very evident issue.’
Plantingatree,
lookingafter
wildlifeandthe
environment…
actionswhichhave
helpedtheWarrens
winawards
This guillotining became the cut
off point that inspired him to be
“completely committed to changing
world.” As a result of the lost battle three
s ago to save these gum trees in Kangaroo
ey, 150 kilometres outside Sydney, he’s stuck
protecting the environment with waste,
er, greenhouse emissions and local culture
es embedded “clear in his brain.”
s and wife Sophie’s award-winning luxury
ommodation and spa is carbon neutral and
in the vanguard with local fellow believers
howing Australia the way.
recalls: “I thought ‘I’m coming up to the
5 and 0. The business is doing well. I could
er go golfing, talk about wine or instead
into the future, especially as we have three
dren.’ I drew a line, telling myself ‘This is
ntless. When my lad reaches 16 how am I
ng to argue with him when he asks: ‘Dad,
t did you do about the climate ch ange
?’ and I answer ’Well, I played golf.’
ecided I‘ve all this experience, having spent
ny years working with different countries
nationalities. I’ll use it.“
former Londoner became an instantly
verted modern-day eco warrior leader.
finished a responsible tourism MSc degree
year. He’s chairman of the council green
mmittee, president of the local community
ist association and chairman of the regional
anisation.
now he’s also forming the International
tre for Responsible Tourism-Australia, a
-profit research and training base.
s is all about ‘social’ in the sustainable
rix,” says Warren, aged 52. “Whatever
act I have made, I know I couldn’t have
e anything without help in the community.
e real Australia is about the rural
communities. It’s about their struggle and the
unique landscape.”
This was never more clearly illustrated than in
the bid to rescue a cluster of trees on a scenic
highway that spears right through the hugely
popular Kangaroo Valley, two hours outside
Sydney , and receives hundreds of thousan ds
visitors annually.
“I had notification of plans to improve safety
by removing these trees,” he says. “Not
because they were old and threatening to fall
in the road but because three years earlier a
five-seater car carrying six lads, who had been
drinking , drove into one of them. None was
wearing a seatbelt. All died. They were doing
twice the legal speed limit of 80k.
“I took exception to the Road Traffi c Authority’s
decision. I could not understand the idea.
I got so infuriated because I realised their
choice came without applying ethics, logic or
common sense.
“Contrary to my usual personality, I put my
head above the parapet and spoke about my
objection to the proposal on local radio and
within the village community of about 340. Lo
and behold, a whole load of people agreed.
“At packed public meetings to discuss the ‘cull’
none of the victim lads’ relatives opposed.
I did hear later that one family wanted the
trees spared. There was a single expression
of disapproval from a family which suffered a
casualty from another incident.
“There was one tree only that had been struck
on that dangerous stretch and overall it made
more sense to reduce the speed limit to 60k.
“Then came the day when the cutting down
was to begin. I was still upset. I got in my car in
the morning to voice again my complaint. But I
couldn’t park nearer than 1. 5k from the site!
“It seemed everybody was there. Interestingly,
the protest brought together all kinds of
persuasion – right wing liberals to communist
greens.
“When the lorries turned up the crowd
spontaneously chanted …’No more business in
the valley.’ We all knew the company.
“For a while we did a pretty good job of halting
the trucks. Then we shifted aside to let the
school bus pass – I waved to my children – but
from a military point of view it was
a mistake. The police swooped
and prevented us re-blocking the
road. That was it.
“The campaign wasn’t successful
but it established regular discourse
with the road safety authorities over
all relevant issues. We are now treated
with a degree of respect.
“Those trees represented
something to people – and they
were also home to a lot of wildlife.
“Replacement species planted
more than five metres off the
highway have not grown.
The whole episode
persuaded Warren there
was a vacuum. He began
formulating his concept
to try to encourage the
destination to reduce its
greenhouse gas footprint.
He FightsRoot & Branch
he 97 trees that faced the axe seemed of minor signicance measured against the six billion plus lost
the world every year. For Christopher Warren it was life dening.
‘It seemed everybody was there. Interestingly, theprotest brought together all kinds of persuasion –right wing liberals to communist greens.’
Storyofthebig
ght…Chrison
themegaphone
Noworryabout emissions…
ChrisandSophiepedalthe openroad
Spotlight on Australia
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Emma Whittlesea and Shona Owen see change all
around them and are not taking their eye off the
climate ball. Theissueis verymuchaliveandkicking
forthemastheyreceiveregularevidence.
“Inabusinesssurveythisyear56percentsaidtheywere
aectedbyextremeweather–mostlyrainfall– and63per
centthinkthattheywillbehit inthefuture.Halfofthose
sampledareadaptingandpreparingforchange,”saysEmma,
SustainabilityStrategist forSouth WestTourismin theUnited
Kingdom.“I’mconvincedthattheindustryhasto become
resilienttothechallengeandputthisonthe agendafor‘now’
ratherthanthe‘future.’“
Shona,who isthe NationalTrust’sCommunicationsand
MarketingManagerinDevonandCornwall,says:“We
arealreadyplanningaheadbecause10percentofour
income-generatingassetsare withinvulnerablecoastal
locations–thatispotentially£1.3milliona yearlosttosupport
conservationwork.”
Sheadds:“AtMullioninCornwall,theGrade-IIlistedhistoric
harbourisexposedtothefullforceofwesterlyAtlantic
gales.It hascost£1millionplusinrepairssincethe1990s.The
increasedfrequencyofstormstakesitstolleveryyear.The
Trustrecognisedthattheimpactofclimatechangeandsea
levelrise wouldmakedamage morefrequent and,possibly,
unsustainable.After an18-month studyand consultationswithinterestedparties,itwasagreedthatthesitewillcontinue
tobemaintainedbutthenextmajordamagecanonlybe
madesafe notrepaired.“
Thefateoftheharbour–whichattracts80,000visitorsa
yearbenetting smallbusinessessuch asaccommodation,
restaurants,craftshopsandgalleries– isaclimaticsignof
theeconomictimes.It makesit hardfortheTrust–mottoto
‘protectspecialplacesforeverforeveryonein England,Wales
andNorthern Ireland.’
TheTrust’sresearchintothelongevityofWestburyCourt
Gardens,poised closeto theRiver Severnin Gloucestershire
anddatingbacktothelate17thcentury,paintsa starkvision.
Itssurvivalhopesareprecarious–sealevelrisesposingplant
saltpoisoning andheavy rainfallsthreateningooding.
TheTrusthas thedilemma ofwhat defensivedecisions
itmakes–andon whatscale–orwhethertoacceptthe
inevitableand manoeuvrewithinthose limits.
Theweatheriscallingthetuneinawaythatshapestourism
likeneverbefore. With1,130kilometres,the Trustnowowns
andcaresforalmostonetenthof coastlinecoveringEngland,
Walesand NorthernIreland.
Thesestretcheswill becomeincreasinglysubject toerosion
andoodingoverthenext100yearsandtheTrustcannot
putthisprobleminthe pendingtray.Ithasto intervene
immediatelytodrawattention,changeattitudesandbringin
newmanagementapproaches.
Shona, aged41,hasworkedwiththeNationalTrustsince1998
andstudiedsomeTrustbuildingsandparklandaspart ofher
MastersinHistoryofArt.
“I’veseenrsthandtheimpactof extremeweatheron Trust
properties,”says Shona.“Colleaguesagree weare witnessing
changein somanydierentwaysanddegreesofseverity.
“We’reencounteringincreasedstorminess,monsoon-like
delugesandtimesof drought.Weare surethistrend will
continue,soweare adaptingtocounter everything…fromhow
werepairhistoricbuildings’roofs tothe waywewater gardens.“I’mcertainthattheTrustcannotgo italone.Iwasconvinced
afterbeinginvolvedat Boscastle–a Cornishvillagehitby a
surpriseoodsixyearsago–andat ouraward-winningdune
restorationprojectatSouthMiltonSandsinDevon.
“Nowadaysweexplaintopartnersandthepublicwhatwe’ve
learntandwhatourconcernsarefora specicsite;thenwork
witheveryonetodevelopandimplementanactionplan.
Thishelps identifya sustainablesolutionand recognisesthat
what’shappening goesbeyond NationalTrustland.”
Emma,aged34, hasbeen involvedinsustainabledevelopment
sinceleavinguniversitywitha degreeinenvironmental
scienceandsays: “IbelieveRe
practicableandI seeand fee
“TheSouthWestof England
OutstandingNaturalBeauty
WorldHeritageSitesandlas
visitorsplus95milliondayv
“Myaimisto encouragethe
helpbusinessesto workharm
naturalassets,ensuringthei
elevatethe implicationsof e
today’smindsetandtogetth
businesses.It isnota farawa
destinationsastheMaldives
“Iwanttohelpcreateknowl
thethinking andsolutions to
Emma,whoisdoingadocto
tourismoflowcarbongrow
ahugeareaandclimatecha
theneedtomitigateandred
toadaptingandpreparingit
bea moreobviousconsidera
intrinsicallylinked.” www.cl
As debate rumbles on over the science, cause an
realistic women entrenched in tourism ar
preparation for extreme weathe
their current priority lis
Weather gir
21milliontripsrepresent
worth$US6.5billionin20
overseasvisitors.With95
employmentvaluereach
IntheUKeightoftheten
beganin 1659)haveoccu
heat-wavewhichreache
causedbetween22,000
acrossEurope–thisislik
temperatureby2040.W
centwetterby then– wit
spotlightfa
Change habits now say Spotlight on the
Imagescou
EmmaandShonahavewitnessedstorms,
hotspots,oodingandmajorerosion
Stjepan Pavicic devised and directs the Wenger
Patagonian Expedition Race because he wants the
world to know about the wilderness mystique – and
lenges – that set aside this area of Chile.
ewildering and bewitching mixture of forest, glaciers,
untains and waterways – gateway to Antarctica – makes it
remely special to this 43-year-old Chilean-Croatian.
ife is devoted to opening the region’s doo rs to sustainable
ism, ensuring conservation and safety from unfettered
mmercial activity.
enthuses: “Chilean Patagonia is spectacular and remote – so
que that few people have seen anything quite like it.
s race – launched in 2004 and with a different route each
– makes it possible for the competitors to experience
ning pristine parts of the region.
ushes them to their limits. Sleep deprivation is common and
ntal strength is as important as physical stamina. Only up to
er cent usually finish.
ere are 15 international teams of four and they cover about
kilometres of enormously varied terrain by a combination of
king, orienteering, mountain biking, sea kayaking and rope
k. The semi-professional field can range from marines to
te agents.
h squad navigates with just a map and compass and passes
eral checkpoints. All have access to GPS and satellite phone in
ergency.
ers have in recent years
rcome blizzards, kayaked
whales in the Magellan
Strait and biked
through
the amazing hills of the Wildlife Conservation’s Karukinka reserve.
“Two years ago a group tried a short-cut and ended up stuck
in wilderness for four days. They were beaten by the incredible
forests and we rescued them.
“Last year an American proposed at the closing ceremony –
deducing that the couple could face anything after surviving the
race together.
“Over the years 25 countries – ranging from Australia to Uruguay
– have competed.
“The route is kept secret until 24 hours before the start although
next year we are revealing that it will focus on ords of the great
Southern Continental Ice Field and Torres del Paine.
“British team Helly Hansen Prunesco have won the past two
events and are returning to defend their title.”
But the regular winner for Pavicic is Patagonia. He has attracted
widespread exposure to the issues confronting the region.
The Chile community recognises his efforts and he sits on a
panel to nurture and expand sustainable tourism through
concerted actions.
Pavicic’s multi-national Nomadas Outdoor Services race
organisation has helped guard against threats from peat mining
and logging by increasing the land value as a tourism asset –
promoting its global recognition and initiating science projects.
While monitoring such things as beaver dam wreckage,
the other side of the scale is how Pavicic’s event helps
conservationists identify how eco lodges and protected
pathways can bring tourist benefits.
“We have explored more than 4,000 kilometres of specific routes
and take our athletes far off the beaten track and that has wide-
reaching benefits,” says Pavicic.
He’s working with the Wildlife Conservation Society, having
created the public usage plan for their conservation area in
Karukinka on the island of Tierra del Fuego, where he grew up.
He adds: “We are inaugurating a fund-raising element to operate
in tandem with the race. For 2011, the focus will be on attracting
$US20,000 to support saving the Patagonian Huemul, the deer
species which figures on Chile’s coat of
arms and is at risk of extinction.”
‘Racers have in recent yearsovercome blizzards, kayaked pastwhales in the Magellan Straitand biked through the amazinghills of the Wildlife Conservation’sKarukinka reserve.’
ercely-obsessive geologist will send 60 lion-hearted competitors into unknown territory for 10 days
ext February to save an endangered species, help tourism and enhance the environment.
High-yingrisksandhigh-octaneenergy
onfoot,bikeand kayak,toa backdropof
incrediblescenery
Racing for his prideSpotlight on Patagonia
Onyour
marks–go!
Stjepan–organiser
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intensive agriculture in the form of food production. It’s why I
strongly encourage ways to ‘decarbonise’ tourism - as part of
transforming society. Renewable energy sources, as well as less
carbon intensive lifestyles and holiday patterns will be essential
in such a transition.
“New Zealand will face a massive challenge with its long-haul
markets. About a third of visitors come to see friends or relatives
so they have a strong motivation to travel and will resolve to
overcome price hikes.
“But there will be social impacts of disconnected families
after thresholds have been reached. This might affect overall
migration patterns with Kiwis returning home.
“Europeans may be less likely to migrate to the end of the world.
Of course, the biggest market for NZ is Australia and so long as
aeroplanes fly this will exist - and be vital for the economy here.
“Some progress will be made in aircraft energy effi ciency yet the
travel cost will be much more expensive.
“Much could depend on the future habits and trends of the USAand China/Asia public. They are just one long-haul flight away
from NZ so that potential remains.
“Overall, I can imagine that travellers would stay longer, for three
months, say, if the visa rules were relaxed. This means that new
products would need to be introduced to cater for this change
of audience. Shipping will become an alternative – although it’s
still relatively energy intensive and takes a long time.
“The other great hope for the NZ market is domestic tourism,
reversing a current flow - about 1.8 million go abroad every year
compared to 2.4 million inbounds. It is not all doom and gloom,
but tourism will be reduced.”
SusanneisinvestigatingtheobstaclesaspartofaNew
ZealandPeakOilThinkTankwithleadingscientistsfroma
rangeofareas. It’sseeking possibleideasforthe countryto
becomeindependentofoil -and ideallyotherfossilfuels such
ascoal.
“This is where peak oil and climate change merge. I hear
interesting moves from the Maldives, and individual destinations
such as Australia’s Sunshine Coast, starting to develop strategies.
These decarbonising efforts will also reduce tourism’s burden on
the atmosphere.
“However, the overall trend is still to believe in ongoing growth
and infinite resource availability.
“For tourism the absolute challenge will be in long-distance
transport. Maybe destinations simply need to rethink their
customer bases. For some this will be hard; think of Kenya.
“The hype around bio fuels for vehicles has been
dampened. It does not make sense to use
productive land for them because thebalance is not worth it: You put almost
as much energy into the project than
you yield.
“The solution is probably in electricity.
Wind is already quite competitive and
solar will become so - it is, after all, the
most abundant resource of energy
we have.
“There are some issues around storing
the energy and also producing the
equipment (for which we inconveniently
need oil). I think these proble
in nuclear as a long-term solu
possibly in 50 years.
“The earlier a country manage
in the future. Some are in a be
Japan: totally reliant on impor
vulnerable. In contrast: France
term with nuclear power, lots
energy effi cient transport syst
Susanne’s climate change wo
is currently working on a seco
New Zealand co-author Prof J
on climate change impacts an
extra researchers probing the
“I fear for those places remo
who spend eno
convinced
miracle“The
So
l
t
co
dest
from re
...andher fears
Ma k ea Da te!
W TM World Responsible
Tourism Da y
9 t h No ve m be r
2011
Spotlight
A Mother’s Pride
Susanne’s natural-born optimism is sometimes shaken to
its roots when she sees in vivid close up the suggestions
of her work.
m typically a positive person, but the knowledge that I have of
world (or at least what I believe) makes me sometimes rather
simistic – or shall I say realistic, “she laughs.
anne, 36, is a sustainable tourism expert, an Associate
essor at Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand, with
us on energy use and climate change.
ay she is concentrating hard on the cru cial subject of peak oil
duction – and what happens when that resource becomes
e and more scarce. Her early impressions are of a monster to
unleashed. And she ponders how she might help tame it.
nia brings so much joy to life and makes you focus on the
mediate future - which is great because when I think about
ger term, global issues I get quite worried.
sonally I hope that my family and I will ‘get away with it’ and
is why we started to do things like grow vegetables, installble glazing and bike when we can! Even Zania got her first
e bike. Jake, who is a fitter and turner and now looks full time
r Zania, thinks practically.
ving skills and being able to ‘do something with your own
ds’ will always be in demand.
en I think about how limited oil supplies and climate change
significantly affect us I envisage human civilisation surviving
in a different context.
e bright side is that I think living in New Zealand is a lucky
ce – I came here 10 years ago from Germany, near Munich,
ere I was born and educated. New Zealand has many
advantages: a low population base, a relatively unspoilt and
resilient environment, self suffi ciency in food production and, to
a large extent, energy supply.
“My greatest concern is that at som e point I might be torn
between staying here where my home is now – Jake is a Kiwi –
and being emotionally drawn back to Germany to my family to
look after my parents and be with my siblings and their children.”
“At the moment, visiting regularly is financially still feasible, even
though it does add to our personal carbon footprint...but those
times might change. We will then have to look at longer stays
such as a sabbatical and Jake will finally have to learn proper
German!”
Susanne studied for a master’s degree in ecology at Karlsruhe
University but her yearning for travel eventually took her to NZ
where she did a doctoral thesis on the energy use of tourism in
the country and its environmental impact. “I am still here,” she
smiles.
“My key interests are still the resource consumption of tourism
and how we can find ways of being more effi cient and smart.
“Initially I looked at this from a climate change perspective - i.e.
greenhouse gas emissions – and the effects of extreme events.
“But I recently became interested in the concept of peak oil and
started doing research.“
She is pretty much a ‘lone ranger’ in the field where tourism is
involved. It is not yet a mass topic. She hopes to convince her
peers of its significance.
“I feel now we are looking in the wrong direction - focusing
so much on climate change when we are near to a potential
collapse of the global transport system,” says the woman who
relishes the sporty outdoor life.
Susanne had been granted funding for a three-year programme
to examine NZ tourism’s vulnerability to oil shocks. The
programme is in its final phase. We saw in 2008 a blink of what
might happen when prices reach ed a record high of $US145.
“Airlines put on surcharges yet still many of them went bankrupt,
or had to be rescued by government,” she recalls.
”People changed their behaviour within destinations - for
example in using car hire and restaurants.
“Oilisoftenreferredtoas thelifebloodofoureconomy.
Thesameappliestotourism.
“Without oil nothing really works - manufacturing, mining,
transportation, any social activity and, most importantly,
usanne Becken looks lovingly at
er 18-month-old daughter Zania,
aying blithely unaware, and
onders what sort of world will
xist for her in 20 years’ time.
‘Considering that the resources are coming close to ultimate in production– and really it does not matter overmuch whether in ve or 10 years’ or if it has happened already - the implications for global tourism will be huge.Even larger and more pressing than the results of climate change.’
Susanneonan away-from-it-alloutingwithZania andJake
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resentmentorviolencedirected atoverseasvisitors. We
needjustthreemonthswithoutnewsandallwillchange
hereforthebetter.NonewsisgoodnewsforPakistan.
“Itmight seemincongruousbut thecricketscandal is
asbiga horrorastheoods,”admitsNajeeb,whohas
ledliaisonand logisticalsupportteam
onPakistantours.“It’sa matterof
nationalpridebeing devastated.
Thesportisalmosta religion.
Believeme,my mothercan’t
understanda wordof English
butshewillbewatching
theAshes series
betweenEnglandand
Australiainher remote
Himalayanhome.”
N obodyknew aboutKhanpurLake, aone-hour drivefrom
Islamabad,untilNajeebAhmed Khanintroducedwater-
basedteam-building activities.Hegave localslifejackets
andconvincedthem tobuy smallboatsto runtouristtrips.
Todaythereare about60 boatbusinesses;ensuring more
then80 familiesderiveincome.This co-operativeproject
mushroomed-withintwoyearshehadthecapacityto
accommodate1,200peoplein luxurytentsand Khanpur
isnowoneofthemostvisitedtouristspots.Avillagercan
makeenoughmoneyduringagoodweekendtofeedhis
extendedfamilyfor amonth.
Hedevised aunique schemetoprotect snowleopards
aftershepherdscomplained thattheywere losing
livestock.Withnancialsupport fromfriends,he promised
compensationforevery goatkilled.
Ponyandcamelrides bringinmoney forup to200 families.
Hissloganthis yearis “Onetouristthree trees”and
plantationsiteslookedafter bylocallabour have
beensetupwiththehelpofforestrydepartments.A
communicationsrm hasjoined forcesinthe campaignto
plant30,000 specimens.
HimalayanHolidayssponsor20 portersevery yearfor
safetyand highaltitudetraining.Brothers Hussanand
AsadSadparaare climbingMountEverestthis year
andNajeeb’scompany playedaleading rolearranging
expeditionnancesfrom thegovernment.
Najeeb’steamworked voluntarilywiththeWorld
HealthOrganizationandUNICEFon polioeradication
programmes-assistingsurveillanceteams visitingfar-
ungareasof Pakistan.
HeledthewayafteranSOScalltohisseasonal
highaltitudeporters tohelp afterthe 2005Kashmir
earthquakeaswinter approached.Theycarried
winterizedtentson foottohigh places.Theyprepared a
reportonlossoflifeandtourismlivelihoodandontheir
recommendation30hotelswere reconstructed.
Theywerethersttouroperatortoorganiseasponsored
expeditionclean-upatK2 MountainBasecampand
BaltoroGlacier,bringingback20tonsof rubbish.
Two hundred plus Sri Lankan farmers, mainly wo
believe it but a crop that they hardly gave a seco
revitalising their income – and ghting climate c
CuttiPover
Fisherman Chandana Kumara earns $US4.5 dollars
a day…if he’s lucky. Many days his luck’s out. Wife
Anusha is providing a safety net for the couple and
their two daughters as one of a new army of woodcutters.
Anusha, 27, has brought in nearly $US30 already by wielding
her small machete. And there’s no fear of the money stream
running out.
They are fuelling the Heritance Kadalama Hotel, reducing its
diesel use by 165,000 litres a year, slashing CO2
emissions by
500 tonnes and slicing $US90,000 o outgoings.
The hotel operates with a bio-mass power set up that is
taking 60 tons of Gliricidia wood a month.
The tree’s natural replenishment cycle means it can be
harvested every six months.
Remote and rural Kandalama residents, with too many still
below the poverty line, are seizing the opportunity to covet
more than their vegetable patches.
Gliricidia was considered an extremely poor relation
alongside tea, rubber and coconut plantations. It served
a purpose as boundary fencing, shade plant or creeper
support. Now it is established as the fourth crop of Sri Lanka
– ideal for the dry zones and needing little attention. The
hotel’s power project has 950kw capacity and
a fantastic list of fringe benets means up to
750 families have access to electricity and
clean water.
Since the
harvesting programme sta
increased employment pr
worth around $US65,000 t
central Dambulla region.
Thehotel’sprotshaveris
visitorsduringthecivilwa
foreignexchangepayment
Charmarie Maalge, Found
Tourism Partnership Sir La
Aitken Spence Hotels, says
economic benets of using
that the hotel is actively en
production.
“It requires 720 tonnes bio
local instead of distant sup
and lower petrol or diesel
“There is a series of educat
which around 300 commu
slow process convincing s
changing their growing tra
Malin Hapugoda , managin
adds: “Heritance Kandalam
with its 35,000 internation
half from the United Kingd
planting Gliricidia for the v
“Its properties regenerate
you cultivate one acre you
of 12 tons, nearly $US900.
“The hotel, a national icon
credentials which are mon
measured annually. It puts
conservation and eco issu
reputation for empowerin
with more than 55 per cen
including two executives,
Spotlight on Pak
Najeeb–battler
Smilingnow–the Kumarasw
babydaughter
NajeebAhmedKhan haskept histourismbusiness
aoatand createdan internationalreputation
despite9/lland theterrorismfears aftermath,
arthquakes,politicalmayhemand cricketscandals.
heoodsofthisyear,though,sunkthecountrytonewlevels
fagony.
Hunger,diseaseandstar vationarehanging overthe heads
fmillions.Eventhebestscenariosuggeststhattherewillbe
rolongeddisruptioninto2011,”hesighs.
Hetransformedhis o ceinto anemergencyHQ, switchingto
eliefdutieshis sta of15 mountainguides,36 freelancehigh
ltitudeportersplus campingcrew andstudent volunteers.
Najeebfrettedfor newsof his68-year-oldmother,who was
ompletelycuto inhis northernmountainhome townof
unji.“Ragingwaters broughtdown telephonelinesand
onnectingbridges.It tookmy brotherHidayatullaheightdays
oreachthefamilyhome.
Mostroadswerewashedaway,”hesays.“Itwilltakemonths
ospanthe800-metrewideRiverIndus.Sothe1,200families
aveto takea 27kmhazardousfootpath.Everywhere elseis
otallyinaccessible.
Wedecidedtofocusourrescueeortsontheseisolated
ommunities.Iwas stuckin Islamabadwhilemy brotherand
illagevolunteerswerebusy shiftingabout 85displaced
amilies,includingmyown, tosafety. Communicationwas by
atellitephone.“
lsewhereNajeeb’speoplewere helpingstrandedvillagers,
oordinatingwiththe militaryand liaisingwithtraveller
roups.Theyplayed theirpart inrescuing35 Japanese,22
Germans,12Spanish, 70Pakistanis.The GermanEmbassygave
receptionas athank-you.
Najeeb’scompany,www.himalayanholidays.pk, providedfree
oodandsheltertotruckdriverstrappedfor17daysat3,400
metres.“The areais huge,the northernmostpart ofPakistan,
oweconcentratedontheterritoryweknewbest,Nanga
arbat.
Idon’tseeanybodylookingsooninthatdirectionintermsof
rehabilitation.Ithas beenbadly aectedby humanloss–47
dead.Morethan100familieswerestrandedineldswiththeir
livestock.Twomonths latertherewas stillan acuteshortageof
fuelandnowaterorelectricitysupply.Itwasa storyrepeated
inalmosteverytowninthevicinity.
“Ninetypercentofmyeldsta comefromtheareaandare
ideallysuitedfor climbingandare moreresistantto cold.They
ledout 276stuckPakistani families.
“Thesolelinkwasbyair.Helicoptersortiescanreachthere
onlyongoodweatherdays.Mostightsliftedoutforeign
tourists.Wetriedtoteamupwithourvolunteerstoorganise
raftsasthewatersreceded.Onetimewehad30riverguides
butonlyonecraft.”
Thisregion housestheworld’s ninthhighestmountain.Its
nametranslatesto NakedMountain.The peopletherewould
havebeenleftnakedofhopewithoutmensuchasNajeeb.
Hebrusheso hiscontribution:“Therewasonlyso muchthe
governmentandthe armedforcescoulddointhe faceofsucha
massivedisaster;everyoneinthecountrytriedto addasmuch
helptheycould. Whereasthe2005earthquakeandthe internally
displacedpersons’crisisweredevastating,theywere
containedwithina geographicarea,”hesays.
“Ancientruinsthat havestoodfor thousandsof
yearshavebeensweptawaybutmoretragicis
theterriblehumancasualtyrate– morethan
20millionsuering,160,000squarekilometers
inundated,onemillionhomes lostor
damagedand20percentofthecountry’s
cropland destroyedorseverelyspoilt.
Thefullextentofthecatastrophe
remainsunknown.
“Thosewhosuerarealwaysthesamepeople,poorand
oppressedworkingmassesof Pakistan.
“Therehavebeen50oodsinthepast28years.Inallofthose
calamitiesthelivesof thoseaectedwereneverfully restored.”
The42-year-oldNajeebremainsan optimistand acceptsthat
“youcan’t predictwhat’s nextin Pakistan.”
After13 yearsas aneager-to-learnfreelanceguide,he
branchedoutonhisowninOctober,1999withvetents,one
jeepand twosta andsoon becameenormouslyrespected
andtrusted.
But“after 9/11,the internationaltouriststayedhome. Iwas
strugglingforsurvival unableto meetphonebills andsalaries
ofsta,whoeventuallyleft.Ijustkeptexploringnewwaysof
stayingin mychoseneld.”
Thisyear hehas receivedonly32 internationaltourists,most
forlessthen10days,against118in2009.About490domestic
travellerscancelledbecauseof theoods. Tradeisdown 90%.
Itwilltake4to5 yearstoregainpre-ood,pre-earthquake
touristgures…assumingnomorecalamaties,
Headds:“Younameit,wehaveithereInPakistan.Youcannot
plananythinglongterm,Ifit isn’tanaturaldisaster– therewas
a6.3Richterscaleearthquakesoonaftertheoods–thenit
couldbe politicalturmoil,bomb blast,or corruption.
“Despiteallthis hardshipanddi culties,I don’tregreta single
momentof mytourismprofessionalcareer. I’veexperienced
dierentcultures,ethnicgroups andreligions.
“Ifthereislifeafterdeath,I’llstillbedoingthesamethingand
wouldliketobein thesameplace.I’dhopetherewouldbe
honestpoliticians,though!”
Najeebhasimpressed HighCommissionsandmulti-national
corporationswithhis organisationalskills.Theyadmired his
stickability,refusingtob owout whileall aroundhimrivals
abandonedtourismventures.
Hesits onseveralPakistan tourismcommitteesbut has
beenon themove withresponsibletourisminitiativessince
2003whenhe beganopeningup previouslyunknown,
undevelopedlocations;generatinga livingfor the
impoverished.
“Pakistanhaseverything– 168outoftheworld’s200highest
mountains,oneof thelongest glaciersoutsidethe Polar
regions,theworld’s twomost ancientcivilizations.It is
thebirthplace oftwo religions,SikhismandH induism;
Buddhismourishedherein Taxila.
“Wehavethe bestmangoesand cotton;fourseasons
inonecountryrangingfromdesertinthesouthto
Himalayasinthenorth.ButstillPakistanisn’tonthe
worldtouristmap.“Mostpeoplewhovisit
popularNorthernPakistanareassafeas
anytouristintheworld.Forexample,
Pakistanhasneverhadatouristbus
attacked.Thereis nobitterness,
Pakistan is running out of tears to shed with a catalogue of
disasters that would shrink gladiators to jelly. But this former
teenage trekking guide stands his ground, passionately battlingfor his beleaguered country.
all oddsAgainst
‘There was only so much the government and the armed forces could doin the face of such a massive disaster; everyone in the country tried to addas much help they could.’
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ell Cookedpoignant – she has a 10-year-old adopted son plus a four-year-
old ‘miracle’ daughter and knows the value of love to a child.”
Sevda, 39, runs Thomas Cook’s summer and Neilson’s ski
programmes. She inspires her team and suppliers to support
Stilian Paflagoniski in Kosharitsa, just 5km from the Sunny Beach
tourist area.
It houses 22 children with mental or physical disabilities. Some of
the new-born babies will remain there all their lives.
A new chapel, air-conditioning, soft-flooring play area and
kitchen equipment are among the improvements from regular
fund-raising activities and donations. Sevda also organises an
annual trip to the Aquapark for the children, who lovingly call her
Auntie Sevvy.
DolnaBaniaOrphanageat Borovetscatersfor56 childrenaged
fromthreeto18.Itistheirhomeandschool.Thecentrespecialises
inpreparingyoungsterstointegrateintothecommunityand
trainsthemforjobssuchas farmingandhairdressing.Some
childrenareinterestedintourismandifEnglishcan beaddedto
theircurriculum,ThomasCookwillbeinvolved.
As a local, Sevda has a deep understanding of the issues that
affect communities in the country. She wants to use Thomas
Cook’s influence to create opportunities.
Jo adds: “Sevda is recognised by local hoteliers for her dedication
to sustainable causes. Her commitment, leadership and
popularity show how one person can affect the attitude and
responses of destinations.”
Mother of two, Paula Francisco ,a consumer affairs executive,
has spent 10 years in the Dominican Republic but is perpetually
shocked by premature baby deaths.
According to the CIA World Factbook, nearly 26 children per
1,000 die before reaching 12 months.
Paula says: “I find it desperately sad.” She puts enormous effort
into generating extra income for the Ricardo Limardo Hospital as
part of Thomas Cook’s benevolent programme on the island.
Jo says: “Our team here, with the backing of guests and suppliers,
has raised more than $US20,000 over the past few years. This
funding has paid for running water, toilet facilities, windows and
air conditioning in the new natal baby unit.”
Paula – “I love working here” – adds: “We’re all involved in helping
local communities. Our resort team sees how they struggle on a
daily basis even down to purchasing patterns at their Colmado
(local corner shop).
“At the end of their stay clients activel y seek ways to help and
they donate clothes, beachwear and toiletries. These are taken
by incoming visitors on a
jeep safari tour to remote
regions.
“Local villagers are grateful
and holidaymakers are
touched by the experience.
One, a teacher, was totally
motivated by meeting
a counterpart at Imbert
village school in Puerton
Plata. She contacted us
on her return to work
at Wakefield District Commun
possibility of ‘twinning’ with I
Technology and access to ele
in the village but Paula broug
offi ce. There they linked up o
the internet.
aKICK startThe last ball is long kicked. Now the wait is on to conrm
whether South Africa’s World Cup legacy proves a
winner for the home crowd left behind when more than
500,000 tourists drifted away.
The ear-piercing vuvuzela, traditionally used to
attract people to meetings, is still creating a big
noise in the economy for a co-operative of 40
women from Imizamu Yethu township.
They had been attending literacy classes at Hout Bay, Cape
Town, and creating fancy paper/card goods when hitting on
the idea of decorating the football fan horn.
The designs included beading and the South African flag and
were so impressive that Woolworths ordered 6,500, which
sold at about $US45 each. The women worked feverishly
from a Wendy house and a few
containers and brought in
almost $US145,000 for theircommunity project.
Now the focus will be
on an export drive –
trying to emulate the
incredible rocketing
fortunes of Craig Marais, who was jobless and,
he admits, “near down and out” in the build up
to the World Cup.
Hedevisedasock-likebrandedcoverfor
thevuvuzelaandfroma one-manoutfithe
expandedto 100plus staff attractinginterest
fromIsrael,France,GermanyandBrazil.“Alotofordersarefor
overseas,”hesays.
The football tournament visitors inspired a range of Springbok
down-at-heelers to go for gold an d their target is to retain
their customer base. The World Cup brought 650,000 jobs and
the challenge is to retain employment levels. The 40,000
extra police have stayed in place.Alfred Baloyi was living and working in a squatter’s
camp near Soweto before taking to a new height
his invention of decorating makarapas, hard
hats like miners’ helmets. He has moved
base to a studio and gives work to 50
artists.
Helen Turnbull of Serendipity Africa
– Supporting Sustainable Tourism
Development, says:
“Sofarasthe responsibletourismlegacy
goes,someinitiativeswerearra
committeesfor visitingfans top
peoplefrom underprivilegedco
“This went a long way to reassu
welcome and safe. But the mo
specific demand for township
“People came prepared to look
sophisticated tourism. They watheir holiday with those that co
“As well as seeing the ongoing
Africa, the fans came away insp
those that live in less fortunate
“Wehopethatmanywillbeb
theywillsee positivechange
departmentsthathave pled
motivationasinthe leadup
continuegrowingthe much
socialsystemthatwillreach
Signofthe
goodtimesat
NaplesAirport
andwithMiss
Solar,second
right
Johnny X’s daily routine in Cornwall, one of the poorest
areas in the United Kingdom, was rubbishy… devoid
of ambition, example and future.
His fragile temperament got him expelled from
nstream schooling; his sole interest keeping him up half
night. Johnny was addicted to computers, especially
tary games. He looked destined for a dead end.
bal Boarders have grasped him to their athletic
sts and introduced him to hope. He is ‘Surng to
cess’ thanks to their pioneering approach helping
dvantaged, lost-their-way kids.
s a collaborative eort with dedicated Short Stay
ools’ sta. We are only a cog in the wheel of this
abilitating work, but it is the most rewarding aspect of
business,” says Mod Le Froy, director/founder of the
ng holiday and leisure company based at Marazion,
of the Cornish beaches they use delicately.
ese children have all kinds of behavioural problem –
ging from dyslexia and autism to suering from social
usion. They come mostly from a seriously deprived area,
h in unemployment and endemic crime – 90 per cent
oke, 50 per cent are on drugs.
nny,nothisrealname,hasbeenwithusfortwo
rs.Seeingthechangeinchildrenlikehimissomuch
resatisfyingthan normalinter-actionwith clients.It is
emelychallenging.Theywon’t engagearecocky and
ressive.Sometimestheywalkoutofthedoororjustdon’t
nup.Wesetanagendatogivethemownershipoftheir
grammewhichis nevermorethan 1-4coach-pupilratios.
hnny was belligerently anti-social.
a never-to-be-forgotten incident, coach Steve Hancock
d to engage him after everybody in the bus had been
en a choc bar. Steve was driving and asked J to look after
– instead he ate it!
”Steve joked,
never made a big
deal about it. Over
time the pair struck up a
relationship until 13 months later Johnny
handed him an identical bar. It was a powerful message of
gained respect.
“I’ve seen lads become extremely aectionate and tactile,
hugging their coaches, asking how they are in an adult way.
This would have been denitely no-go at the beginning.”
Global Boarders use some prot from their $US1,500 a week
luxury tuition holidays and corporate breaks to operate the
scheme that has trained 75 nine to 16 year olds this year.
Apart from local councils’ nancial backing, the mental
health charity MIND has given them a grant.
Plymouth University are examining the data accumulated
over the course’s three-year existence and found
measureable, signicant improvements.
“One other calculation suggests that if we coped with
200 kids a year and kept them out of the justice system it
would save the taxpayer £4.7million,” says 38-year-old Mod,
surng for ve years and mother of a seven – year – old son.
“J, like many reluctant, contemptuous beginners, would
take 45 minutes to get into a wet suit and another 25 to
reach the water. Once in the sea he became a dierent
person.
“His attendance became regular but it was surprising once
when he arrived two hours early, sitting with his parents
in a van. Then I learned the vehicle was the family home –
theirs had been burned down in an arson attack.”
Next year four boys who have known troubled waters will
do work experience – hoping to become lifeguards and
surng coaches.
om surng obsessively on a keyboard or
ames console to riding the waves – this
oubled child’s amazing turnaround
npoints an emotive strand of
ustainable tourism.
sur f in g to
MISS Solar emerged alongside glasses of limoncello
as striking aperitifs for an experimental
environmental awareness day in Italy.
The appeal of agriturismo took on a new slant at Sant’Agata,
Sorrento, in a mixture of low emissions journey, cooking
instruction, tree planting, herb, spice and flower hints.
Jo Baddeley, Thomas Cook Sustainable Destinations Manager,
says: “We’re excited by the feedback we received from this trial
run and the cookery event will become part of next summer’s
programme.
“Apart from the potential substantial benefits to local growers,
it’s a fantastic way for our customers to sample rural life.
“The 20 holidaymakers travelled by electric bus and watched
food and liqueur demonstrations before enjoying a four-course
meal of local products. They planted olive trees and watched our
representatives parade as characters such as Miss Organic, Mr
Water Reserve and Solar – who powered her way to the fashion
show title of Miss Environmental 2010.
“There was a real message behind the fun, which was
sponsored by our local coach company and Fattoria Terranova
Farm. The initiative links with our Naples Airport arrivals hall
poster campaign to promote sustainability, which isn’t widely
understood by Italian suppliers. I’m looking forward to seeing
positive change – thanks to the dedication of our resort team in
Sorrento.”
Jo co-ordinates worldwide action by employees as Thomas
Cook pays ever-increasing attention to responsible, social and
philanthropic travel.
She pinpoints Sevda Ivanova in Bulgaria as “a wonderful example
of someone with a strong desire to make a real change.”
Jo reveals: “Sevda’s long-standing
relationship with two
orphanages is especially
It’s so Eating and drinking like a
budding gourmet is high
on the list of Thomas Cook’s
2011 menu. All in the cause of
responsible travel.
Sevdawith
husbandDanny
andtheirchildren
Dejanand
Stella
Success
Allonboardforagreatwaytowave
goodbyetodismal days
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reflects Mandip, president of the country’s Ecotourism Society,
and with a reputation that has gained a string of awards plus
the title India’s Most Versatile Adventurer.
“The village of Khonoma, in Nagaland, was in the black books
because of their hunting of the protected Blyth’s Tragopan
Pheasant. They knew it was wrong but it was tradition and
people were hungry. It was explained that they could earn
probably five times what they were netting from the meat by
running home-stay businesses and guiding birdwatchers to
the endangered rare species. Everybody wins.”
Ibex helped in this trial programme to persuade the younger
generation to end the hunting.
Some of the company’s other projects have included:
anthropological and deep sea fishing expedition; studying
indigenous tribes, Himalayan trips – they prepared Singapore’s
team to surmount Everest – and the ‘Ice Trek’ in Ladakh on the
frozen River Zanskar.
The area is landlocked for six months and at 15degrees below
excruciatingly hard to survive economically. By ‘opening up’
the territory in 1994, about 1,000 travellers have visited, stayed
locally, been fed and guided and the money attracted is double,
treble summertime income.
As business surged, so Mandip has been handcuffed to his
desk more than his “adventurous genes” would prefer.
“I have to ensure, though, that each year I have my outdoor ‘fix.’ I
do at least three to four weeks on expedition.
“The whole family – we have two children – team up on an Ibex
Explorers’ Fellowship tour.
“Some of these explorations are reconnaissance based and non-
commercial but have turned out to be two-pronged. Afterwards
we have helped convert them into tourist destinations to
empower the locals.”
It will surprise nobody that their offspring have a lust for travel
and that 23-year-old Himali (Daughter of the Snow) and Himraj
(King of the Snow) were named after the Himalayas. Himali is a
writer and intermittently joins up with Ibex journeys. Himraj, 19,
in his third year at Colorado College doing film and Asian studies,
has inherited the outdoor enthusiast bug and rock climbs.
“Anita happily shelves any reluctance to be with us all on every
Fellowship journey,” chuckles Mandip.
Beneath Anita’s playful banter with Mandip is a strong vein
of pride. She pinpoints Ibex year-old link with Responsible
Voluntouring in Rajasthan which has improved teaching
methods in the region’s rural villages.
She is also delighted by another trend: ” We organise minutely
customised luxury travel where clients – some of them women-
only tours – combine their holiday with a humanitarian cause of
their choice.”
‘Take nothing but photographs, leave only fo
Camaraderiewasatits h
threefriendsin1986inth
MountMeru–considereaccordingtomythology
“Itwasthe mosttechnica
andbeforeitwebecame
ourpacks weeven cuto
recallsMandip.Thebond
andmoved lightningfas
days,returningin two.
Camaraderieisa keyelem
willinglyjoinedtheIndo
attheSwissAlpseightye
itmightcontributeto pro
Glacierinthe Himalayas
overthe borderareaand
Conservationistsfretabo
thepresenceof soldiersf
Camaraderieisneeded b
Indiantravelindustryto
veyearswhen touristn
vetotenmillionayear
policyinplace toavoidd
spotlightfa
MandipandAnita,
stilllockedtogetheras
onedespitehislustfor
adventure
It’satrunk route
AlltogetheratEverest
includingchildrenof‘the snow’
ApeakmomentforMandiponMountMeru
S
Indian mould-breaking travel entrepreneur Mandip Singh
Soin jokes: “Anita pulls my leg and grumbles every trip
together that she was tricked into it a ll and tells me she
d so easily have married into the other side of the family – in
nce, banking or investment.
e is a lover of the outdoors like me. But sometimes her
husiasm is less than mine!”
erstandably, one of those occasions of doubt could have
n while accompanying him up a live volcano.
dip smiles: “We have been married 25 years and the fact that
are still talking despite working and living together must say
ething! The secret? We look together in the same direction.”
that path they have trod has never worried them if it
been against the flow. It might well be called a route of
ovation, caring and crusading on behalf of the environment
its often-deprived community dependents.
dip, 53, has been bewitched by nature and its challenges
m age 14 – inspired by his head teacher.
e principal had climbed on Everest and his British friend,
untaineer Chris Bonington, often stayed at our school. It was
tivating listening to them. I was hooked.
nk adventure was already in my genes. My father was an
y offi cer, who also did Para trooping,” says the man who
variously chanced his arm – and legs – at bungee jumping,
diving, rock and ice climbing, downhill skiing, hang gliding,
aking, rafting, cycling, camel desert crossing and an elephant
edition.
h a Masters in history in his pocket and a diplomat’s role
koning, Mandip escaped on a year off to confirm his instincts
it wasn’t the life for him.
ability to survive on subsistence diet came in handy later
when he toured Europe with little cash. He took climbing
ructor’s roles in Britain.
ponsible travel became ingrained the moment I started out
bing and trekking – it was natural to look after those same
oundings that were providing excitement and fulfilment.
u also develop an empathy with teammates – the guides,
ers and cooks. You realise that you almost certainly couldn’t
h the summit without them and an intense respect grows.
he same feeling generated towards the pristine area you
er – you don’t want to threaten closin g it up by bad actions
h as leaving garbage behind, burning valued juniper trees
firewood, despoiling the water systems. All that was stillpening until the early 80s.”
dip was heavily conscious of these and other pitfalls when
ointly founded Ibex Expeditions in 1979. “It was the first big
us,” he recalls.
managing director his mantra remains: Take nothing but
tographs, leave only footprints.
h one of us can make a difference – and I know we must.
ng the impact of pollution on the ozone hole in the Arctic in
9 made a real and lasting impression.”
and director Anita , 51, maintain a personalised service
ring for up to 1,000 people ann ually and keep introducing
new regions to a portfolio that provides eco tours, adventure
escapes, luxury, safari and cultural breaks.
There is a core of about 500 repeat clients. These range from
authors and artists to professionals and priests and they sign on
for trips in India of up to six weeks.
“There is always a demand for places – our first expedition in
1980 was 12 strong and some of those come back again and
again,” adds Mandip.
“An 83-year-old Italian priest, from Bologna, who teaches
mathematics, has been with us seven times. He enjoyed
Himalayan expeditions but more recently, cultural trekking. I
think I have some catching up on the red wine intake if I am to
emulate him and carry on that long!”
Loyalty among his customers is repeated within
his staff. His chief guide has been with him
30 years.
When Mandip ventured into the
business he quickly saw flaws that
he wanted to remedy. It grated
him that tips weren’t reaching the
community and that the porters’
incomes were derisory.
“The industry could be seen as
takers rather than givers. Over
a period that has changed,”
he’s glad to say. “I wanted to
improve wages.”
By a terrible coincidence
he was quickly able
to show his personal
commitment to
revolutionise theapproach to
tourism. He
joined in
emergency
work
alongside his staff whose families and homes were affected by
earthquake disaster.
“By tiny actions things have built up into a fairer situation.
Money has come into villages for educational, health and
training schemes.”
There is no fast track to bliss for the underprivileged but
Mandip has been gloriously uplifted by the examples of
bandits and poachers transforming themselves from zeroes to
heroes.
A potential World Heritage Site on the River Chambal in central
India, brimming with bird species, crocodiles and fauna, was off
bounds for many would-be travellers for fear of being robbed.
Wary local administrators wanted to cancel the night before
Mandip’s team was due to set out to reconnoitre the area. They
relented yet instead insisted the group must be shielded by a
posse of 14 armed policemen. That guard was finally reduced
to four.
This bold expedition three years ago laid a framework, created
an atmosphere of trust with the locals, who had been scraping
an existence off the land, and persuaded them of better
prospects in becoming naturalists and guides.
Training progress has been slow and deliberate; the political
will is now picking up zest, though, and everything should be
in place by the end of the year.
“They can then earn an honourable tourism
income, without the risk of being thrown in
jail, leaving behind mothers
and children,”
s wife, Anita, teases that she could be luxuriating and dispensing cocktails in chandeliered
plendour instead of trudging alongside a ‘zany’ explorer.
FamilyValues‘Responsible travel becameingrained the moment I startedout climbing and trekking – it wasnatural to look after those samesurroundings that were providingexcitement and fullment.’
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often have to walk more th
and then return carrying 1
“I don’t think there is much
to communities. This is a w
also think it unlikely to be a
However with the advent o
growing opportunities.”
But he has seen living stan
kind of place that Hollywoo
enjoy near anonymity trav
AIDS advocacy group DATA
He could certainly aord th
than $US35 a night – includ
and pack animal.
Marketing and booking co
the host communities and
cent and the guides 25 per
prot goes to the commun
invests the surplus into a g
Cooks earn the equivalent
are being pushed hard to i
a minimum of 10birr (62cen
“Our target is to get them o
salaries need to be set by t
otherwise it will cease to b
Chapman.
The money earned goes on
essentials but communitie
coee, spices, food and clo
“All the women cooks at M
says Chapman, “especially
one. She used to be painfu
with a condence. She has
community.”
Dassashe Enanaw 30, who
brothers, earns about eigh
has improved. Previously I
these are reduced. I have b
items, such as spices, salt, c
plus clothes for the family.
to sell property such as chi
“I have had three training s
and hygiene which I now a
Other sta jobs range from
housekeepers. There is sco
and building materials. Gu
birds of prey and Gelada Ba
visitors to locals and explai
Tourism is the great hope fo
tireless eort are now direc
that take clients to other de
income, improve lives and
empower women.
The man who played sever
volunteer – while subsidisas technical adviser in 2006
“That position required a w
be renewed this year, so it
table already – to start a pr
Tours, to handle marketing
“We are ironing out how th
Community based Tourism
Chapman lives in Addis Ab
Olivia, nine, and Tristan, 10
and have inherited their fat
Markjustlovesthe
peopleandtheir
country
Spo
Sowing the seedshey still use oxen to till what is often surprisingly fertile land in a
ountry where the public perception is drought.
Mark Chapman loves Ethiopia and strives constantly to push its credentials. “The
country is beautiful; the people are dignied and hospitable despite their annual
struggle to make ends meet in one of the world’s poorest places,” he says.
culture accounts for 85 per cent of total employment in an economy that is ghting to
ersify. Nearly 40 per cent grind out a living that keeps them below the poverty line.
the smiles of people light up Chapman who was the rst white face seen by many rural
pherds and subsistence farmers.
pman, 45, born in Kent, UK, rst visited Ethiopia in 1992 as a back-packer. He
rned in 1998 with ideas on how to develop a new model of tourism. That
m has mushroomed to bolster a network of 15 villages.
ecalls: “Seeing the countryside and the people in it I soon realised the
ential. Then in 1999 the concept started to come together; I termed
tially fair-trade tourism. It has evolved into a community-based
em where, ultimately, the villagers can operate their own tourism
inesses.
e communities now manage tourists without any help –
founding sceptics who doubted this could happen.”
he start, plans hit many false starts and shortages
money. Construction began in 2002 but ran into the
ers. Chapman would not surrender and 12 months
r was instrumental in launching TourisminEthiopia
SustainableFuture Alternatives or TESFA, which
ans hope in Amharic.
e’d found the ideal place to begin, Mequat Mariam,
ch remains our No 1 site, “he says.
e growth of the business has far outstripped my
ectations. I thought we would do well to have a handful
tes with maybe 10-15 clients a month.
r main locations attract more than 40 monthly and once I
seen how visitors enjoyed the experience I began to feel
this could be rolled out over the country; dreaming that
opia could become as famous for its community based
rism treks as the Himalayan model is for Nepal.
und 150 locals are now trained and employed because
op of the overnight sites there are lunch stop
ces for trekkers. Also some communities
ve meals on the trail.
“The target is to expand into new regions, possibly developing other extra services the
communities can provide – its currently accommodation, food and guiding – plus
encouraging more adventurous tourism.”
Another Chapman objective is to make enough good wells
available – with hand pumps – or protected sources
so that communities have access to clean water.
Women are tasked with fetching water and
‘Our main locationsattract more than 40monthly and once I hadseen how visitors enjoyedthe experience I beganto feel that this couldbe rolled out over thecountry.’
of tourism
Ti lli ng th el an dby ox en… sh ow in gtr adi ti ona lc ra ft s… it all makes for an amaz in gtr ip… w elc ome db yf ri end ly host s
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“IrecallwhenItoldAnitaI wasleavingtostartatravelbusinessshe
calledme intoheroffi ce(fullofseeds,nutsandplantsfromaround
theworldsoontobecomeingredientsinnew products.)
“Shetookoutahugepieceofpaper.Ononesideshe toldmeto
rightdownallthe ‘rules’ofhow thetravelindustryoperates.Then
shesuggestedIbreakallofthemandto writeexactlytheopposite
ontheothersideofthepaper.Itwasa greatlesson.”
Headded:“AfterquittingIstudiedformymaster’sdegreeinRT
underProfessorHaroldGoodwin.Hehas beenanacademic
mentorforme throughout.I haveretainedcloselinksandthathas
beenanimportantfactor.“
Francis’sAfricanknowledgesurfacedashe sunkhislifesavingsinto
thevisionandworkedalonefromhome.Orat leasthetried.Two
peoplewereso impressedbythisenterprisetheyinsistedon
helpinghimwithoutpayforayear.Today,nearly10yearson,they
aredirectorsofthecompany.
Hesays:“Wecouldn’thavepickedaworsetimetobegin.Nobody
wasinterestedin travelafter 9/11;the dot.comscene hadcollapsed
andbeinggreenor ethicalwasnotsharp.Butamongthemany
turningpointsin2004/5theindustrybegantorealiseforthefirst
timethatithada widersenseofresponsibilitythantomakeas
muchmoneyasitcould.Ethicalconsumerismtookoff inthe
supermarkets.
“Someofthebiggerplayersbecameactivein thefield,realising
responsibletravelwasnotjustforthenerdsbutthatitwas a
seriousissue; notoff puttingbut importantand interestingto
tourists.Thechangebeganandhascontinuedsince.
“Idon’tbelievetouristsjumpoutofbedinthe morningandsay‘I
musthavearesponsibleholiday.‘
“Rathertheythink,‘Iwantaslightlymorerealexperiencefrom
goingawayandthesetypeofbrezaksofferitand,at thesame
time,do somegood.’
“WhendonereallywellRTis designedaroundlocalpeopleand
theirculture.Thatisthemagicinit. Weneedthereconnection
betweenthetravellerandthehome communities’wayof life.
“Therehavebeentoomanypicturesofpalmtrees.Tourismcan
learnfromthefoodindustry,whichcleverlyuseslabellingto
highlightthefarmerwhomadetheproductfromhiscrop.”
WhenFrancisrelaxesit iswithHeidi,hiswifeoftwoyears,atLewes,
Sussex,wheresheownsandrunsa boutique/home-wareshopin
whatwasa15thcenturychurch.
“Mybigprojectistorestoreavintagewoodencanoe,andlaunch
ontheSussexRiverOuse–veryresponsibletravel!”
But not everything will be plain sailing for Francis and the
industry. He foresees aviation flying into thicker clouds of
pricing and emissions controversy and also has strong doubts
about the mooted global certification scheme proposals for
responsible travel. His optimism won’t be suffocated, though,
and he is “amazed that this is the seventh year of the company’s
Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards” hosted by World
Travel Market.
“Thestandards risecontinually andthis encouragesvital healthy
competition.Wereceive nominationsfrom newplaces, some
we’veneverheardof,everyyear.”
Francispointsout:“Asamarke
responsibletravelcanbuildin
becomingasimportantasval
boundariesto cross.
“Forinstance,itdoesn’thavet
Peru.Youcanequallyrelaxina
runbythelocals,gofishingw
thedistinction.Therearefarm
greenhotelstovisit.
“Oneofthebigmythsis thaty
time.Ithinktheopposite.You
Youfeelabitmorepartof the
FrancishasoftenreturnedtoA
lessoninadvicefromanelder,
“I pitched up in a traditional n
parks. When I was about to le
me for coming to stay, asked
then shocked me by saying: ‘I
done.’ I was taken aback. Ther
and he wanted a bigger retur
told me to go back and tell ev
Village. I thought it sounded g
although not just confined to
intention to go a stage furthe
been forming.
“Whenacommunityisclearo
createa relationshipwiththep
marketinganddistributiontom
Asfortherecessionbedevillin
Focusonwhatmakesyoudiff
yoursenseofhumourandtak
‘Focus on what makes youdierent, treat your suppliers well,keep your sense of humour andtake long walks!’
JustinFrancisandProfes
responsibletravel.comin
Oneof theirrstemploye
theworld’sforemostauth
spotlightfa
ofEmiratesAirline centresits focuson large-scalebio- diversity
protectionprojectsandemissionsreduction.Thisisreflectedin
habitatrehabilitation, wildlifesafety andthe reintroductionof
threatenedspecies intoscientifically-managed reserves.
ThisphilosophyishighlightedatAlMahaDesertResort&Spa
whichwas directlyresponsible forproposing, andnow administers,
thesurrounding225km 2 DubaiDesert ConservationReserve. The
projectshowcasesconservationonanationalscale.
It isthelargestformallyprotectedconservationreserveintheGulf
andrecognised bythe UnitedNational EnvironmentProgramme.
ThesameguidelinesarereplicatedatWolganValleyResort&
SpainAustralia’sBlueMountains,whichopenedayearago.The
resortoccupiesjusttwopercentofa4,000-acrereserve,whichis
undergoinghabitat rehabilitationafter 100years underagriculture.Theonlyresortinrecenthistorytoreceivepermissiontobebuilt
adjacenttoaWorldHeritageArea,Wolganisthefirsthoteltobe
internationallyaccredited ascarbon neutral.
Currentlyinpre-construction,CapTernayResort&Spainthe
Seychelleswillfollowanidenticalapproach.
“Fundingandworkinginconservationformorethanadecade,
EH&Rhas demonstratedleadership inraising awarenessabout
sustainabilityina regionoftheworldwhereenvironmentalbest
practiceshaveoftenhadgivewaytorelentlessdevelopment
schemesandresourcerestrictions,”wastheverdictofjudgeswho
wereimpressed bycollaborative researchand environmentally
sympatheticarchitectural designs.
#
CommunityBenetAward
Itbeganasaripplebutisr idingonthecrestof
awave.Thesmall-scale,community-basedWhaleWatchKaikoura ,inNewZealand,takestheCommunity
BenefitAward.
Formed23yearsagobyfourMaorifamilies,this
tourismventurehasturnedintoathrivingset–upthatis
thecatalystfortherevival,sustainablegrowthanddevelopment
ofanentireregion.Throughgeneratingprofits,WWKhassecured
thelandofKaikourapeninsulaforthepopulation,whichhaslived
therefor1,000yearsandwasunderthreatofdisplacementthrough
railroaddevelopments andpoverty.
Amongmany gestures,the businessgives annualwhale- watching
schooltrips, donationsto Kaikourahospital, coastguardand fire
brigade.It fundsmarine research.
Apartfromthedramaofup-closeencounterswiththe
GiantSpermWhale–equivalenttothesizeoffour
elephants–Kaikourahasalsoproducedshorejoy.
ItwasthefirstcommunityinNewZealand,thesecondintheworld,toreceiveGreenGlobe
certification.
Thecountdownapproaches.Closingdateforentriestonextyear’sawardsisDecember
10.TheWorldTravel&TourismCouncilinvitesthosewhodemonstratebestpractice
insustainabletourismtosubmitapplications.Entrieswillbeacceptedonlineat
www.tourismfortomorrow.com forthe fourcategories.
Forfurther information,contact SusannKruegel, Manager,Policy Initiatives,susann.kruegel@
wttc.org.For mediaenquiries, ElliottFrisby,Communications Director,at [email protected]
DESTINATIONSTEWARDSHIP
AWARD
C
C
Justinfondlyrecalls his
visittothevillageof
KawasainZambia
Spotlight o
Itwasa boldmovetoleavealucrativejobasheadof
worldwidemarketingwith BodyShop, thebooming natural
beautyproducts company.“I’dalways, naively,thoughtthat I
uldliketobe anentrepreneurwhocreateda brandthat
becamea householdname.Iam stillalong
wayfromthatbutitremainsanambition
thatdrivesme on.I haveasmuch
energyand enthusiasmto achieve
it,”saysFrancis,chiefexecutiveof
responsibletravel.comanda
burgeoninginfluence inthe
industry.Fromthe“momentsof
misery”sufferedinthefront
roomcum offi ce
ofhisdingy
Brighton
flatin
Sussex,England, theoutfitisnowhousedinoffi ces with22
full-timestaff andhas transformedto gainglobal recognition,
marketingholidaysin 150countries.
“Myfatherhadhis ownbusinessas achildren’stoyinventor.Perhaps
that’swheresomeof theentrepreneur’sspiritcomesfrom. “Butit
neededentrepreneurialwordsyou don’toftenhear,doggedness
andstubbornness,tosurvive,” hereveals.Aged 44,he smiles:“I’ve
beendoingthisnearly 10years –and I’mnotfinishedyet.”
Todaythereisno guiltor apologyoverresultsthatshoweda
turnoverlast yearof £15million-worthofholidays withimpressive
growthover 12months despitethe recession.
“Ihavefeltdilemmasaboutmanythings,flying,aviation,wildlife
tourismbuttheone thingthatI haveneverhadtheslightest
doubtaboutisrunningthisforprofit…combinedwitha strong
setofprinciplesandvalues.”
Francisadds:“Aftertheearlytoughtimes,wehavebeensolidly
profitablefor fiveyears.
“Wearechangingandgrowing,seekingtooffersomethingfor
everybody,trying newthings; broadeningour market,expanding
thescopeofthesite.
“Thereare dynamicand excitingdevelopments,including
launchingin theUnited Stateswith responsiblevacation.comand
theopeningoftravelquestionandanswerventurethe
iKnowaGreatPlace.comsite.
“Ibelieveitisreallyvitalthatbusinesseslikeminemakemoney
becausethatistheonly waywearegoingtopersuadeothersto
copy.It sendsamessage.
“Thisisnotonlyaboutthebalancesheetbutourroleandplacein
society.Ifindthe conceptthatbusinessisonlyforprofitold
fashioned.“Inmyexperience,thevastmajorityofthosesaying
theyarecontributingtoresponsibletourismaredoingsoinsome
measure.Ican hardlythinkofanybodywhohascompletely
fabricatedaclaim.Iworrylessaboutanybodywhomight
justhaveexaggeratedtheirefforts.I’mfar moreconcerned
aboutthemajoritywhodon’tgiveatoss.”
Hewas26 whendecidingtodropeverythingtospenda year
discoveringAfricaby “publictransport, cycling,camping and
walking.”
Afterwardshereturnedtohiscareerin advertisingbeforejoining
TheBodyShopandbeinginspiredbyfounderAnitaRoddick’s
livewireinnovation.Headmits:“Ithoughtherbrandwasreallycool
plusdeliveringastrongsenseofvalues.Ireckonedthatwas
brilliant.IdecidedI’dliketoemulateit.Lookingaroundtherewas
virtuallynothingfroman ethicalperspectiveintravel.”
When responsibletravel.comwasupandtickingalongnicelyhe
wentbacktoseeMsRoddick,whowasimpressedenoughwith
hisprogresstoinvest.
Hesays: “IstillthinkofAnitamostdays.Imissherwitand
advicebuther inuenceremainsasstrongas ever.MostlyI feel
it’saboutencouragingme tobe moreradical,moreactivist,to
dosomethingeveryday totry toaddresssomeof theinequality
andunfairnessintourism.
Body &Soul
#GlobalTourismBusinessAwardFortyyearsofexpertisehassoaredtoa
newhighforFrenchcompanyAccor.The
nationcomesintheshapeofwinningtheGlobalTourism
essAward.
’soperatinginflu encespans nearly100 countrieswith
000employees.Itreachesoutandtouchesthelivesofan
ing32millionpeoplein40countriesofdiversecultureswhere
hilosophy andsustainable activitiestrigger widespread
oval.Theirbenefitstelescopeoutnotonlytoemployeesbut
munitiesandtheyhavealsobecomeacknowledgedfortheir
frewardsandincentivesandexpensesmanagement.
Accor’sglobaloutletsasoneoftheworld’sforemosthospitalitygroupsembracesnearly500,000roomsin4,000hotelsincluding
brandssuch asSofitel, Pullman,MGallery, Novotel,Mercure,
Suitehotel,Adagio,Ib is,Etap Hotel,Formule 1,hotelF1and Motel.
It isoutstandinginternationallyinservicestocorporateclientsand
publicinstitutions.
Thejudgespraisedtheirdevelopmentmodelandcorporate
responsibilityapproach,sayingitis“underpinnedbyadeep
respectforpeopleandtheenvironment.Whethertheyare
individualactionsorlargecollectiveprojects,allinit iativeshelp
makeavirtuouscirclerespectfulofemployees,customers,host
communitiesand theplanet’s naturalresources.”
Theirprogrammesincludeallformsofchildprotection,ranging
fromsextourism–since2002ithasbeenattheforefrontofthis
fight,engagin gstaff ina comprehensivetraining programmeto
detectsuspiciousbehaviourandhowtoreact–tocombating
epidemicsand promotinghealthy eating.
Accorisactivelyinvolvedinotherhealthissues,joiningtheGlobal
BusinessCoalition onHIV/AIDS,Tuberculosis andMalaria in2005.
Alsohighonitslistofpriorit iesisreducingwaterandenergy
consumption,improving wastesorting andrecycling, plus
biodiversitypreservation.
#
DestinationStewardship
Award
Lessmeansbest,lowtradeshigh,couldbetheslogansof BotswanaTourism Board asitrevelsinthe
distinctionof winningthe DestinationStewardship Award.
TourismisthesecondlargestcontributortoBotswana’sGDPand
TheOkavangoDeltaRamsarSite(ODRS)isthepremierattraction
andNo.1employerinthecountry’snorthernregion.
But,facedwiththechallengeofsustainabilityandequitability,
Botswanabravelydecidedonfewertouristsatlowerdensit iesand
highertariffs.
Alegislative frameworkmanages thisfuturistic approachand
ensuresthatbedandvehicledensit iesaresetatconservativelevels
andgeographicallyspread.Allstakeholders,local,nationaland
international,benefit; theiraccountability isclear andalternate
threatstotheareaaremanaged.
ODRSisaunique55,374km2 water–and–game-richareawithin
thecountry’s desertenvironment. Itcomprises 9.5%ofB otswana’s
totallandarea,includestheUNESCOWorldHeritageSiteTsodilo
Hills,MoremiGame Reserve,wildlif emanagement areasand
communitylands.
Partnershipbetween state,private sectorand ruralcommunities
hasbeenestablished.Some34percentoftheadultpopulation
inODRSworkintourismandwildlife,contributingtothe
conservationof fragilehabitat.
Thejudging panelreported: “Operatorsand tourismsuppliers
withintheODRShavetakenBotswana’stourismvisiontoheartand
havecreated world-classfacilities.”MyraSekgororoane,Chief ExecutiveOffi cerof BotswanaTourism
Board,said:“Theawardmeansalottous.Italsochallengesand
motivatesustocontinuetocompeteonbestpracticesandproduct
offeringsglobally.’’
#ConservationAward
Tourismand conservationcan blend
successfullytogether atthe highestlevels.
Thatistheproofandmessageof EmiratesHotels& Resorts
emergingtopofthelistfortheConservationAward.
Launchedin 2006,this premierhospitality managementdivision
here were more than 160 entries in all categories
r World Travel and Tourism Council’s 2010
ourism for Tomorrow Awards.
AchieversHigh
he sweet smell of success could not satisfy Justin Francis. He
ented another route to business fullment.
Spotlight on Global Awards
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‘P Noi’ arouses the best of emotions – aection, admiration, inspiration. She seeks litt
Utterly DedicatedSlums inspired her
Potjana Suansri’s selfless commitment carries a workload
that can leave those around her humbled and in awe.
Potjana, 45, has been unwaveringly devoted to
Thailand’s rural class for nearly half her life.
She is project co-ordinator of the Thailand Community–Based
Tourism Institute (CBT-I), housed at Chiangmai University.
Her efforts working side by side with those less privileged have
given her an international reputation.
Peter Richards, a close colleague for seven years, says: “Potjana,
or P – Noi (older sister Noi) as her friends call her, is highly
respected and retains trust at all levels because she has worked
consistently with the players who make community-based
tourism work – community members, tour operators and tour
guides, government and academics. She is a ‘people person’, not
a ‘project person.’
“She has never sought limelight. It is not part of Thai culture. Also,
P Noi regards work and success necessarily as a joint effort.
“However, it is without doubt right to say that she is married to
her job. I have never known anybody work so unbelievably hard
– seven days a week and often from 6am around the clock until
1-2 in the morning.
“She is smart and skilled, totally sincere – one of the foremost
pioneers of responsible rural tourism – and the leader of the
Thai community-based tourism movement – bringing
the struggles of the isolated to the attention of
the country’s government and urban
middle classes.
“Others have also done
much excellent
work.
Potjana drew the map for community-based tourism. Her
methods for helping local community members to develop
and manage their own tourism experiences have had a huge
influence in Thailand, the region and further afield.
“Outside of our core team of seven, her magnetism means we
can call on a regular group of ten volunteers and an extended
network of up to 40 more who will invariably respond to any
request for a helping hand that she makes.”
Funding for CBT-I comes from various sources and activities such
as consultancy and training for community members and tour
operators.
Her close-knit team, knowing money can be a nightmare
problem, continue their labour of love. Salaries are moderate and
it’s a month-to-month battle to raise them.
There are an incredible 80-100 communities involved in CBT-I
now compared to the 12 when the unit was formed in its current
shape four years ago.
Potjana admits: “Community-based tourism is not easy. It takes
a lot of time and endeavour – both from the communities and
the facilitators.
”Finding the tourists that understand the concept and want to
learn about it – and fortunately for us have the ability to educate
others – gives us hope that eventually we can change society.”
Richards, 35, married with two children, started as a volunteer
in 2002 after learning about Potjana’s work and became CBT-I
marketing and development co-ordinator.
“It was a challenge, a chance to contribute towards something
good,” he says. “In today’s globalised world, CBT is a unique
opportunity for people from different countries and cultures to
meet, learn, share experience and develop more respect and
understanding.
“On one side is the cultural experience for the
tourist. They can stay with the
daily life – be it fishing, farmin
traditional art and craft.
“The other side is we try to us
environmental work in the co
various projects. My role is to s
like that kind of experience an
It is also locating tour operato
communities could liaise with
Potjana’s first job as a 22-year-
the Bangkok slums determine
campaigned over two years fo
upgrade health, education, em
community levels. The people
and she devised a banking sy
reduce the overbearing press
The biggest convincing lesso
from those days was that the
rural villagers often did not im
when they headed for the city
work. She believes these folk
opportunities to remain at ho
their traditional livelihoods an
She opened the eyes of the c
better off to the struggles of t
fellow countrymen.
Potjana, as founding member
is quietly proud that over
15 years CBT-I has been
at the centre of the
coming together
of communities,
consumers,
academics and
industry partners,
crossing of barriers of class, re
wealth and nationality.
‘It is without doubt right to say she is married to her job. I have never
known anyone work so unbelievably hard - often almost around the clock.’
Potjanahasdevoted
herselftomaking
tourismworkfor
communities
Spot
Meta Mertens calls it her horse heaven…the sweeping
plains of Mongolia, where she is proud to play a part
maintaining centuries of equine history.
has witnessed the country’s primary nomadic lifestyle resist
ft into the cities for work.
e fall of communism, a resulting severe economic depression
the coincidental death of his famous horse-training father
990 persuaded my friend Jamsran Ganbold to move his wife
two children to the countryside,” says Meta.
wanted to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors and work
h horses. He has been successful and his string has won many
dals in Mongolian races, known as Naadams.
ve stayed with Ganbold and his family for six years and
e found a kindred spirit in him. He typifies the guardians
Mongolian traditions. His presence, with others like him, is
talising Gun-Galuut Reserve. They keep out poachers, build
repair fences and bird outlooks, protect endangered species
ensure good grazing opportunities for the nomads’ livestock.
ponsible eco tourism provides jobs which are diffi cult to find
young people without advanced education.
as also been an influencing factor in bolstering people such
6-year-old Ganbold, a former truck lift driver.
xt summer Selena Travel, which introduced me to Ganbold,
ns the first Mongol Horse Center as part of the responsible
ism programme. I’m assisting with this project and we
ect to create several jobs.”
Nyamsuren Geserbadam, better known as Nyama, is 29 and
Selena’s managing director. She says: “ We have been dedicated
to preserving nomadic lifestyle through responsible tourism
since 2001 and we bring in 1,200 visitors each year. We strive to
support local communities by involving them in activities to earn
cash to keep themselves and their customs alive.
“I am Mongolian from the Gobi desert, the southern part of
Mongolia. My grandparents were nomads and I did not want to
see these people suffer.
“My experience with Raleigh International Expedition, the British
charity organisation, influenced me to pursue a career in tourism.
I joined Selena just after finishing university, majoring in English.
“Mongolia’s population is about three million and one third
lives in the capital Ulaanbaatar. Roughly 1.4 million are nomads
or semi-nomads. Eking out a living is tough and, of course,
youngsters have been lured away.
“The nomads did not have enough cash outside of selling dairy
products, cashmere wool and livestock. We have helped to ease
the problem after forming a mutual co-operative triangle with
them and the local a dministration offi ce. Thirty per cent of all
tourism income goes into the village’s annual budget and they
invest in conservation schemes at the reserve.
“Our Steppe Nomad eco tourist Camp on River Kherlen is wind
and solar power driven. It provides jobs and locals, including
Ganbold, rent us their animals and his sons provide horse, camel
and fishing guide services.
“The wives keep the camp’s kitchen stocked with meat, cheese
and milk from family goats, sheep and cattle.
“As our top repeat client, Meta has seen families’ fortunes change
for the better.”
Meta’s association was triggered because she decided to start
part-time lecturing after adding a master’s in geography to her
degree in environmental studies.
“I had moved to San Francisco, USA, from Holland and until then
my professional life was exclusively in the corporate world,” she
says. “Then in my first class as teacher I had to discuss Central
Asia and realised I knew little about it. My research meant
I discovered Mongolia and two things instantly caught my
attention – horses and wide open spaces. These had been the
quest of my life. I can’t explain why because there is no family
connection but I have been fascinated by horses since a toddler.
I first rode aged six.”
Meta, now 53, adds: “I go to Mongolia for up to six weeks every
summer. “Horse racing is extremely popular but changing
somewhat because of cross breeding.
“Ganbold has 200 horses and is part of a Gal – a close-knit co-op
of trainers – and they have made me a member. It’s an honour
to help prepare our horses for competition. They consider me
‘family’ and I can’t imagine life without them and their support.
“Ganbold and his partners Batbayar and Byamba are Gun-
Galuut Community Association Boa rd management offi cials
empowered by the local government to conserve eco-systems,
preserve nomadic culture and develop sustainable, community-
based tourism.
“Each September, backed by Selena, they organise Nomads’ Day
with games, rituals, sports and music.”
Gabold’s two sons are university graduates, his 11-year-old
daughter an A-grade pupil and wife Altai, ex-sales clerk, has
opened a butcher’s shop that is supplied from their 1,000 plus
livestock collection.
They started out with just a few head. Their example shows what
hard work – and tourism – can do.
hey can ride like the wind but the galloping hooves of time
reatened to dilute, perhaps obliterate, their nomadic traditions.
Horse Power
‘Responsible, eco tourism provides jobs which are di cult to nd foryoung people without advanced education.’
Mainpicture:Onlykids(fromabout4to14years
old)ridein theNaadams.Upto350 horsestake
part,atspeedsof 40kphoverdistancesof27km.
Above:Metaiswelcomedlikefamilyby the
trainersandshesitson herhorseAmbassador,
giventoherbyGanbold(picturedright)
Saving their heritage with…
Spotlight on Mongolia
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AdvertL E i tr m rk th riti h r c tin r r ti n, 1
a moment when governments could be looking
at dierent ways o achieving a more joined up
set o outcomes, or example looking at ways in
which there could be incentivising investments
into green technology. From this we could get job
creation, stimulation o demand and new markets
emerging at the same time as cutting carbon.
SS: Do you think working with celebrities works?
TJ: I think the celebrity side o lie can be powerul
but it needs to be done with caution and it
needs to be done with the right people. The
work that Friends o the Earth did with both
Razorlight, Radiohead and with Thom Yorke
was with people who understood what they
were doing. It wasn’t something which was
an empty piece o PR pu that wasn’t
connected to some more substantial action.
SS: What about working with Prince Charles?
Does he have credibility when he argues for
sustainability and yet runs an extremely
expensive large public household?
TJ: I think the Prince o Wales has developed credibility
on these subjects or having been consistent
on them or orty years, and having developed
an enormous amount o personal expertise.
SS: When he undertakes a trip around Britain to
preach the green message and he’s travelling
on the royal train at tens of thousands of
pounds a day expense, this doesn’t seem to
be a message that’s entirely coherent.
TJ: It’s the way the Royal Family would normally
travel to those kind o events. They’re going
round the country to draw attention to
excellence, they’re using the royal train not simply
as a means o transport but also as a way o
convening meetings, inviting people there,
it’s being used instead o hotels. It’s got multiple
unctions that helps to draw attention to the
issues in a way that is hopeully helpul.
SS: Do you fear that working so closely with
the Prince might lead some to question
whether you’ve accepted the embrace
of the establishment too readily?
TJ: I’ve been working with the establishment and
on the inside o the dierent institutions which
govern us or 25 years.
Some o the time I’m doing this both with
a public ace as a campaigner but nothing really
changes until the powerul institutions and
organisations begin to adopt their own reasons
or making change.
I’ve always taken the view that we have to garner
change and nurture change whenever we get
the opportunity.
SS: What kind of change? You’ve co-written a
book with the Prince, Harmony, the striking
theme is what we’ve heard from him before,about learning from the past. Some would
say that we need to be thinking more radical
thoughts about new technologies rather
than harking back to some idyllic era.
TJ: My view is that the suite we have is already
sufcient or us to solve most o these problems
right away without inventing anything else.
What we have to do
bring them to lie on
We’re saying in Har
question o technol
having the right mi
right kind o techno
and the right kind o
that work with the g
SS: You trained as an o
years campaigning
threatened bird sp
acknowledge that
inevitable, beyond
that comes we are
alarming number o
TJ: We’re at the very las
take action. The gu
in Copenhagen bas
to something like th
o warming.
We don’t have the k
need to be able to m
periods when we co
to something that m
That’s disappointing
This will have impli
humankind, but it w
mass extinction o a
is already underway
and habitat destruc
introduced species.
I think what we hav
o urgency at the sa
o possibility. There
can still keep this se
they are, to within to
have much time in w
SS: Tony Juniper, than
on HARDtalk…
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“ The fnancial situation is not
helpul, however this is not
a moment to say that there’s
no money and thereore we
can’t do anything.”
If you look after a bra
reaching the same ch
watches HARDtalk, c
Telephone +44 (0) 20
carolyn.gibson@bbc
Tony UNIPER
HARDtalk is the lagship programme
on BBC World News that asks the
icult questions. In this specially
mmissioned interview or Spotlight,
ephen Sackur, one o the BBC’s most
spected journalists goes head to head with
ny Juniper, environmental campaigner,
een Party member and editor-in-chie
National Geographic Green Magazine.
Some o them on the other hand don’t really
understand the seriousness o this and they pay
lip service to it, some o them are even hostile
to the idea that we should be investing in major
change. But in the end most politicians do
realise that their personal ortunes are linked
to reecting what the public mood is about,
and in the United Kingdom and elsewhere
in recent years there has been demand.
SS: I wonder whether you feel you might have
been naive on occasion? You shared a
platform with David Cameron, it appeared
to give some sort of legitimacy to his claim
to vote blue and go green, and yet his actions
since becoming Prime Minister don’t suggest
that environmental causes are his number
one concern.
TJ: The decision to share a platorm with David
Cameron was calculated as a means to get his
commitment in a way that he couldn’t revert
away rom, towards backing legislation on
climate change at the domestic level in the
United Kingdom, and it worked.
It was a spectacularly successul move rom
the point o view o what Friends o the Earth
was seeking to achieve which was the highly
ambitious goal o securing parliamentary
support or the world’s rst domestic level
climate change legislation.
That moment with David Cameron I think was
actually quite a crucial one, not only in getting
him to buy into the need or this particular law,
which rom the beginning really didn’t look
as i it had a hope in hell o succeeding, but
it also put really quite severe pressure on
Gordon Brown.
SS: Your own colleague in the Green Party,
Caroline Lucas, the only elected Green MP
said that she sees Tory policy as ‘vote blue
and screw you’which perhaps is a little
embarrassing for you?TJ: No. The way in which we managed to manoeuvre
the parties to do what was required I think
justied the extent to which we’re appeared in
public in a way which might make them look
greener than they actually are.
The coalition government in my view has been
disappointing since the election in terms o how
they put green issues on the agenda. They haven’t
really. What they have done is to undertake
some quite brutal acts o cutting against the
Sustainable Development Commission which has
been closed down, and the Royal Commission
on Environm ental Pollution which has also been
closed down. Two world leading institutions.
They now have a lot to do to prove themselves
i they are serious about being the greenest
government ever. There’s no sense o that yet.
SS: How damaging is the global recession?
TJ: The nancial situation is not helpul, however this
is not a moment to say that there’s no money and
thereore we can’t do anything. It’s a moment or
more creative thinking, to be looking in ways
where we might be redirecting existing money
that’s in the system.
One o the things that’s high on the list is the tens
o billions o dollars o agricultural subsidiesbeing spent in the world at the moment, mostly
on unsustainable damaging agriculture. I we
could shit those subsidies towards higher
productivity in the tropical regions so the ood
output can be increased at the same time as
preserving the orests I think there are some
very posit ive synergies that could come rom
existing resources. I think the recession is
v r tWORLD NEWS isa trademarkothe BritishBroadcastingCorporation,© BBC1996
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Tony, you’re a green activist who happens
to be an optimist, does that hold good after
the failure of the Copenhagen Climate
Summit at the end of last year?
That was a disappointing moment in a long
journey that started back in the late 1980s,
but ortunately it’s not the only thing that’s
happening in the world at the moment. I don’t
think we should take the view that all is lostbecause we don’t have that agreement yet.
Is there any reason to invest
much faith in politicians?
Well, some o them have a natural, personal
interest in these subjects and take leadership
actions in driving the debate orward to the
point where we actually get change in the world.
Advertorial
SPOTLIGHT2010 SPOTLIGHT2010
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Indonesiacovers1.3%of
10percentofallowerin
world’smammals,16per
17percentofbirdsandm
marineandfreshwater
Themany islandsof
widerangeof habita
mangroves,savann
limestonehills,to m
andsnowcapped
PopulationS
4000to6000an
whichisin Leus
LeuserNationa
Aceh),Batang
spotlightfa
The village is seven hours from thenearest city via a combination of driving and trekking.
INDECON and the villagers have made three loop trails along its
jungle tracks for hiking, camping, introduced tubing with safety
standards, caving and other adventure tourism options.
The community benefits from entrance fees, guiding, river-
crossing, accomodation and restaurant sales.
“Giving the community access and legally empowering it
to participate in conservation was a first for Indonesia,” says
Suhandi. “The disappearance of logging also calmed down
conflict in the region.”
“At the age of 22 during university, I was involved for three
years in orangutan research, much of it in Gunung Leuser Park.
It is an extraordinary place – home to eight primate species,
mammals such as elephant and anoa (dwarf buffalo) plus rare
plants and birds.
“In my final year I did school talks and was incredulous when
learning that the kids had never heard of – let alone seen –
Raffl esia Acehensis, one of the rarest and largest flowers . And
they lived just next door!
“I invited them to visit the research station at weekends and they
were thrilled. But I was criticised by expatriate researchers afraid
of possible disturbance.
“It convinced me that research must give benefit to local
communities. I started to wonder how to combine improving
locals’ income while persuading them simultaneously to
conserve natural resources as an asset.”
As part of that drive INDECON has s teered more than 1,000
people through training to boost ecotourism strategy. This year
alone there have been 14 sessions with an average attendance
30-40 drawn from guides, local government offi cers and
community members.
“As tourism is highly affected by external factors and seasons, we
always recommend locals to view (eco)tourism as an alternative
livelihood and keep their current jobs,” adds Suhandi, married
with three children.
Suhandi’s innovative approach spread his reputation and he
was approached to work some magic for Waerebo, home of the
oldest indigenous tribe in Manggarai regency, Flores.
It was inaccessible to all but the most determined tourist – the
village is seven hours from the nearest city via a combination of
driving and trekking.
Suhandi established Waerebo Tourism Organisation; made up o f
19 community members. He has persuaded UNESCO-Indonesia
offi ce, BirdLife Indonesia and others to become involved in
promoting trips to marvel at the unique traditional cone-shaped’
houses that shelter multiple families.
Now, five years on, the 123 households (population 800) have
welcomed 800 travellers, managed home-stay
and started to make products.
Suhandi was ‘adopted’ as a community
member in a ritual ceremony.
He took along other local
communities to share their
experiences of developing village
tourism.
Other outstanding collaborative
projects came when Suhandi was
appointed by UNWTO-Bonn unit
as coordinator for implementation
of their tourism programme in
Pangandaran, West Java, Indonesia in 2007.
He has been assisting a community
struggling to recover. It had recorded 1million
visitors in 2002 but the 2006 tsunami brought
a devastating downturn to 150,000. A new
approach allows extensive participation
of local stakeholders in a major rethink
to link natural conservation to tourism
development.
This plan has been admired by local
and national government. The
Ministry of Culture and Tourism is to
replicate the model, with some local
adjustments, in other destinations.
Arydidthreeyears
researchwith
orangutans
Spotl
A ry Senjaya Suhandi will never forget the day that
the villagers of Tangkahan decided that one of
their 5,000-strong community had betrayed
m. It showed the 48-year-old biologist he was winning the
paganda battle.
andi, brought up in a city of nearly eight million population,
fought a long battle to demonstrate the importance of the
ntry’s abundance of trees, fauna, flora and wild life.
ustrated him that staggeringly beautiful national parks were
ged by communities scrambling around the breadline.
nservation policies are vital to Indonesia’s economy and its
ple’s future,” he says with passion. “My heart has fallen into
tourism because I feel it is the right approach to serve nature
increase community welfare.
erall, we have one of the richest countries for biodiversity. I
ked the move away from the old mass tourism approach to
ourage visitors to minimise their impact and help transform
onesia into a more responsible destination.”
gnificant breakthrough came when a defiant rebel was
ght cutting down trees and breaking an agreement to
ect the country’s second largest park, Gunung Leuser.
Ordinarily this man would have been ignored, a blind eye
turned. Instead he was reported. He remained under arrest for a
year but is now an active member and vice chair of Tangkahan
Tourism Organisation.
“It’s a huge challenge to get people to change from illegal
loggers to conservationists,” says Suhandi, founder-executive
director of Indonesia Ecotourism Network (INDECON.)
“It’s a big step in life-and in their income. Illegal loggers can
make three million rupiahs or $US350 for two weeks’ work.
Looking after the forest, they earn around $US180, plus the
money they raise through agriculture – roughly $200 per
month.
“This was a centre of illegal logging but even when local firms
upped their fees to sway the villagers, they held fast.
“They replied, ‘I’m proud because I’m keeping the forest for
my children.’
“We had launched our campaign through younger people. They
told their fathers of the long-term impacts of deforestation. The
men, in turn, went to the village elders over the dangers of illegal
logging.”
The no-more-cutting deal, part of Tangkahan Ecotourism
Master Plan, was funded by the European Union, Indonesian
Government and the national parks authority
It was launched six years ago and is “still operating successfully.”
Suhandi says: “It has created alternative income and jobs –
especially for young people – produced local investment,
improvement of public infrastructure by local government.”
The progress can be seen in last year’s International tourists
– never less than 50 a month and peaking at 263 in July. The
domestic annually to Tangkahan reached 20,220.
The forest spans almost 800,000 hectares. Tangkahan zealously
guards 8,000 of them. It opens up only 1,500. Yet this is still one of
the region’s premier ecotourism destinations with two rivers, 11
waterfalls, hot water springs and bat caves.
s illegal loggers turned ‘policemen’ it signalled the arrest of a
orrying decline in lost biodiversity and lessened the risk to the
itically endangered Sumatran orangutan.
InspirationalAry
Suhandikeeps
willingcolleagues
inthepicture
whileeducating
childrenandhis
eortsarerewarded
withaceremonial
adoption
‘I did school talks and was incredulous when learning that the kids hadnever heard of – let alone seen – Ra esia Acehensis, one of the rarestand largest owers in the in the World. And they lived next door!’
WinnerLogging up a
Spotlight on Indonesia
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Standards were set high from the outset to show staff the value
of being conscientious and to generate self esteem and pride in
their natural heritage, culture and customs
“Thisbeliefsurfacesstronglywhenguidestakeguestsintothe
forest,explainingthetraditionalusesoftheplants,orwhen
introducingthemtotheirvillage,familyorthechief,”sayslodge
residentdirectorPatrick.
“Ourstaff simplyneedtostatetheyarefromNkwichitoguarantee
themapositioniftheyapplyelsewhere.”Fewdo.
Theyemployonlylocals,morethan60.Withthestaff turnover
minimal,thedepartureofformermanager,JuliusMkambula,ranks
asexceptional.Hehadpreviouslybeenalabourerina remotefarm
about10hours’driveaway.Fatherofthree,hetodayhashisown
lodgebusinessandemployssixpeople.
Juliusdeclares:“I wouldnothaveeverythingyoucanseebehind
mebutformy salaryfromNkwichi.Ihavetwo houses,onefor
renting,theotherformyfamily.Thesehavenewtin roofsandI
haveevenputglassinthewindows.
“Noweverybodyisveryjealousandthatmakesmeproud!Ihave
alsobeentaughthowto useacomputer.”
FranciscoIndiano,a 23-year-oldtrainee chef,always yearnedto
resumetheschoolinghehadtoabandonafterhisparentsdied
whenhewas17withfoursiblings.He becamethefamilybread
winneras arockcarrier.FormerguestBeverleyAbbotstarted
sponsoringhimtocompletehisfinaltwo years.
TheNkwichi wheelof transformationhas spokesoff including
theManda WildernessCommunity andConversation Trusts
plustheUmojiAssociation– whichmeans“asone”–a natural
resourcemanagement umbrellalinking 15villages representing
20,000people.“Evenwhilethelodgewasbeingconstructedwe
spenttimetravellingthearea,sittingundermangotreeswith
communityrepresentativesdiscussing aconservation area,“says
Paul,44, marriedwithtwodaughters.
This’meet– the–locals’exerciseresultedinthem buyinginto
theideaand120,000hectares–equivalenttothesizeof Greater
London– wassetasidebythecommunitiesasa protectedzone.
Uniquely,it isnowlegallyregisteredandshare-ownedbythem
anditsmaintenanceandoperationhavebeenproppedby
technicalassistance fromthe MozambiqueGovernmentplus aid
fromtheIrishandSwedishGovernments
“Thisunitedbodyhasachievedsomuch.Theyrealisethatthey
areintheboxseatto drivetheirdevelopment,theirfuture,”says
Patrick.“Each decisionis closelymonitored forits sustainability.
“UmojihasnegotiatedwithNGOsanddonorstofundacentral
offi ceandfurthertrainingprogrammes.Theyhavealsodonedeals
withtourismoperatorsforaccesstoMandaWildernesswithits
appealofwildlifeandoutdooractivities.
Theaspiringcommunitiesarecertainlynofools.Theyunderstand
onlytoowellthateducationisthekeytocarry themforward.All
villagesvotedschoolsastheirNo.1priority.Theymakethebricks,
contributethelabour. Mozambiqueprovidestwo teachersper
school.Nkwichi raisesfunds.
Patrickadds:“Sofartenschoolshavebeencompletedandthe
spreadandlevelofeducationhas soaredalongwithselfvalue.
“Otherfinishedprojectsincludea maternityclinic– previously
therewasnoneina 100kmradius.“Addtothata maizemillanddemonstrationfarm.Through
trainingsessions,thishashelpedteach700farmerstodiversify
theirproduction, conservetheir soiland groworganic vegetables
tosellatmarket.Wearebigcustomers.“
Fromthe earlytrials, tribulationsand collapses,Nkwichi Lodge
boastssolar powerand energy-effi cienteco-stove cooking.It
hasrisentotheheightsofluxury,exclusiveappeal.Itsattractions
includesnorkellingamong 1,000-plusfish species,exploring the
bushanddiningundera huge,2,000– year–oldbaobabtree.
Andithasa whisperingbeachcallingoutatriumphofcommunity
spiritand co-operation.
The package that confronted Mr. and Mrs. Carter-
James after ripping away the tinsel of their
paradise location in Mozambique stays with them
today. “Behind the stunning lm-set backdrop was poverty
that took your breath away,” says 30 -year-old Amy, a marine
zoologist from Woking, United Kingdom.
“Food shortages annually threatened the survival hopes
of thousands. It was a remote, forgotten society. The local
water source was shared with elephants. Children were too
valuable at home working to be allowed to attend school –
if there even was one nearby.
“Medical care was through traditional witchdoctors or a tiny
ill-equipped clinic.
“Starving people ocked to the sea to forage for sh and
the desperate consequence was vital reef devastation;
slash and burn agriculture was not only unproductive but
destroying their forests.
“Yet the combination of the amazingly beautiful beach
in the Quirimbas National Park and the surrounding
deprivation was ideal to build the holiday business
that fullled our dream and criteria – extreme hardship
alongside fantastic tourism potential and every guest
benetting the local community and environment.
“I’d resolved three years earlier –working in Kenya – to try to
do something to counter injustice, to seek to bridge the gap
between ‘the have’s and have not’s.’ “
This was it; the moment. Husband Neal, 32, a former
professional footballer with Tottenham Hotspur and
Arsenal, agreed. The couple have spent the past eight years
establishing the nine-roomed luxury lodge. Its commercial
success has been matched by the health, comparative
wealth and educational progress for 12 villages and 15,000.
“Determined to prove the local tourism industry wrong, we
engaged a near 100 per cent local workforce from 2004 as
building began and when opening t wo years later.”
Abidarre Alide, son of a sherman from a nearby island,
was down to his last few dollars after near miraculously
funding his way through two years of university. His sharp
mind so impressed that he became the country’s rst lodge
general manager and he’s now their director of operations
in Mozambique.
“Aby also assists on logist
partner Nema, which emb
Millennium Development
programmes, run by volu
village,” says Amy.
”We have given at least v
10 per cent of our revenue
we guarantee that 100 pe
goes directly to grass root
become personally involv
The target today is to spre
out the low-cost, high-im
consultancy Thin Cats Thi
Quissira Saide has been w
promotion to ground man
year. The father of eight, w
admiringly: “In my village
go to school and have a m
healthy.”
“Restaurant supervisor Idr
seriously ill for three mon
a good hospital and visite
lodge,hemightnothave
Life begins at 40 didn’t have any resonance in th
beyond the fabulous Guludo Beach. Most peopl
they reached 38; children that survived birth ha
three of making it to their fth birthday.
TheGuludofoundation a
Cleanwateraccessfor
Buildingtwoprimary
Dailymealfor 802chil
andhealth
100scholarships,educ
8,000mosquito netsd
womenand dramatic
Nutritionandsanitati
vevillages
HIVeducation
Saleand developmen
spotlighti
Beautyand the b
Theirparadise
found…Amy
andNeal
Spotlight
PatrickandPaulSimkin
wouldbe entitled
tohighlightJoyce
Salewa’ssurvival experience.
Notabitof it.Forthem,
JoyceepitomisesNkwichi
ge’screed.Sheisonecasehistoryamongmanycramming
overflowingsuccessfolderofthebusinessthatthebrothers
medoutof passionatLakeNiassa,Cobué,Mozambique.
hadknownlocalcommunityvillagechiefZaitisincethestart
heproject.HebroughtJoycetoustoask ifwecouldfindhera
because ofher terriblesituation,” saysEnglishman Patrick.ewofourstaff havestartedoutlikethis– indireneedof
port.Idon’tknowwhatwouldhavehappenedtoher.But
yearsonJoyce,wholivesa45-minutewalkaway,isstilla
endablemember ofthe housekeepingteam.”
engaNkwichi derivesits ‘SqueakingSands’description from
lfishermenwhoinsistthesugarwhitegrainsliterallysqueal
hdelightwhenanybodystrollsbarefootoverthem.Nkwichi
ge,bycontrast,shoutsitsname– personifyingtheidealsof
onsibletourism.
enPaulandIsatponderingourfuturesina Londonpubone
ht15yearsagowe agreedthelureof Africawascallingus
back.Wealwaysknewitwould.Welovedthewildspacesandthe
people.Butperhapsitseemedawilddreamtoimaginewecould
setupa gamereservetobe ownedbythosewholivedaroundit–
athree-pronged sustainableproject ofconservation, community
developmentandeco- tourism,something thatwould bringlocal
benefitsratherthanconflictswithauthorityandparkmanagers.”
PatrickquithiscareerasaresearcherforTVdocumentaries
inLondon.Paulkepthisjob asanAid workerandis currently
livingin KenyabutworkinginSomalia,helpingtotry tobuild
agovernmentthere.“Youcan see…hehasalwayslikeda
challenge!”says Patrick.
“Wewerebornand
broughtupin Easternand
SouthernAfricaandalso
livedinItalyandSouth
America– ourmother
isArgentine–becauseourfatherworkedfortheUnitedNations
DevelopmentProgramme– changingcountryeverythreetofiveyears.BeforestartingNkwichiweneededbackground.I took
positionsatlodgesandreservesaroundAfrica,whilealsoscouting
potentiallocationsfor ourscheme.” Paul,though, providedthe
breakthrough.
InRwandahehadmetLolaCastrothroughherroleforUnited
Nations’Commission forRefugees andreceived thetip-off about
theunsulliedbeautysurroundingLakeNiassa..Patrickwentonan
exploratorytrip andliterally discoveredthe “perfectspot.”
Lolabecameandremainsoneof thesixfinancialbackers.
“Wehadtoraise$US500,000to launchour dream,”saysPatrick.
“ThisisnotaboutPaulandme.Yes,wewereandare apartof it
all.Butreallythishasalwaysbeena teameffort,embracingoursix
investors,all thestaff plusvillagers.”
Itwas2003beforeNkwichithrewwideitsdoorstovisitorsbuthad
‘soft’openingswithanexperimentaltrickleofgueststoboostcash
flowduringtheinterveningfiveyearsofconstruction.
Duringthattimetheprojectreceivedencouragingsealsof
communityandgovernmentapproval.Ittookpatience– gear-
grindingbureaucraticmachinery finallyproduced thenecessary
documentsand licences.
“The local population had readily agreed to our plans but
the elders felt it wise to consult the ancestors,” recalls Patrick,
aged 39. “A graveyard ceremony and another in the forest,
the supposed ‘home’ of the spirits, saw offerings of sugar
and cigarettes made. Apparently, this was suitable enough to
convince the ancestors!”
The enticement for the locals was the prospect of employment.
They had known only subsistence living from fishing in simple
dugout canoes or from bartering crops. The Mozambique
minimum wage then was $US40 per month; now it is $80.
They gathered natural materials and built the lodge by hand
with minimal environmental and aesthetic impact at a cost of
$US200,000. Another $US300, 000 went on equipment.
That same workforce – many without formal education –
have been trained to become guides, waiters, housekeepers.
This mother was destitute after her husband’s death
from suspected malaria left her to care for seven
children, one a icted by polio. Today she earns
enough to feed, clothe and send them all to school.
Brotherhood
Asurvey reportrevealsthat onaverage eachNkwichi
sta membersupports 15familymembers, meaning
900people aredirectlyhelped bylodge wageswhichare
about$US6,000a month.
PatrickSimkinismarryingMoroccanMeriemZinenext
January.Theymetatthelodgeayearagoandshehas
convincedhimtotryto emulateNkwichiinherhomeland.
Theyhave alreadyearmarkedtwo potentialsites.
spotlightinfo
‘This is not about Paul and me. Yes, we were and are apart of it all. But really this has always been a team eort,embracing our six investors, all the sta plus villagers.’
mo tingresponsible tourism
t he f ace of jo y af ter despair
Jo yce...
07/10/2010 16:20
Thesta whowork happilyto makethelodge aluxury location,which
helpskeepthe villagersinemploymentand playingleadingroles
Paul Patrick
Spotlight on Mozambique
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HIVsocial workerAilieTamdownplaysher stirring
commitmenttoMadagascarwhenshe sayssimply:“I’ve
alwaysbeenhumanitariandrawn.
“Livingthereratherthanbeing athomewith myhusbandBen,
werecentlycelebratedour firstanniversary,is certainlyalot more
challenging!Butit isextremelystimulatingandrewarding.Thereis
alwayshope.”
ThescaleofobstacleswheresheisbasedatFortDauphincould
dauntthestrongest-willedcharacter.She boldlyfacesthe reality
thatmorethan90 percentof its55,000populationlive below
thepovertylinewithilliteracyratesupto80percent,more
predominatelyamongwomen.
Ailie,fromCardiff,UK, isworkingspecificallyamong femalesaged
13-25to educatethemonsexual health,thedangersof transmitted
diseasesandthefurther problemsthatcancreate.
“Asavolunteeronaresearchplacement,I ledaprojectlastyear
toimproveHIV preventioneffortsforNGO Azafady,whichhad
experienceddiffi cultiesreachingyoungpregnantandmarried
women”,recalls Ailie.
“Iworkedamong HIVpatientswhilestudyingat Liverpool.
OnceI completedmyMastersinsocialworkIknewIwanted
togo toAfrica topursuefurther educationina four–yeardoctorate
inHIV epidemiology,specialisinginsocial analysisof
pregnantwomen.
“Iwasamazedathowinequalityin
Madagascarwasreinforcingthe
women’s
tendencyto engageinhigh-riskbehaviorthatincreasedtheir
vulnerabilitytocontractingHIV.”
Theearlysteps ofprogresswill expand–bolsteredby herselection
from2,500applicantsfor the£45,000VodafoneWorldof Difference
grant.Itgives herthechanceto setup aspecialisedHIV maternal
preventionproject witha full-timefemaledoctorandthree part-
timepeergroup educators.
Theschemeis vitallyimportantforthe futureof theisland’shealth
–andchancesof prosperity–because theworst-caseprediction
isthatin 15years’Madagascarwill havefolloweddownthe pathof
countrieslikeKenyaandSouth Africa,whereup toa quarterofthe
populationisinfected.
“Westill havetimeto preventthisdevastatingdiseasefrom
obliteratingthisbeautiful country,”saysresilientAilie.
Sheviewsher involvementin Madagascarintheround –a spokeof
responsibletourism:“NGOexpatsprovidean incomeforMalagash
aswebuyhomefoodandgoods,rentpropertyanduselocal
labour,forwashing,ironing,taxis andguides,for whichwepay
aboveaverage.
“Azafadydoamazingwork amongthecountry’smost deprived
communities,200,000 peoplehavebenefittedfromat leastone
ofthehealth, education,conservationorconstructionprojects
undertakenthroughan amalgamationof volunteersandlocals.
“Iadore theunpredictabilityofworkingfor Azafadybutoccasionally
Iexperiencewaves ofcultureshock whichremindmeof the
deprivation.Girls areencouragedto marryor becomepregnant
fromas youngas12 astheir familiessimplyjustcannot affordto
feedthem.Thissituationpromptswomen togenerateincomevia
sexworkingand thiscouldbe theequivalentofUS50
centspersession. Sextourismi
rifein thesouth.Multiplepartn
Malagasyculture.It iscommon
whilehiswife ispregnantor ha
“Unprotectedsex andmultiple
inFort Dauphinwhicharepred
40percentamongwomen. Th
centinthepastfouryears.
“Settingupthe first-everanten
women’sassociationshasa str
supportnetworkto createa sa
discusssexual healthandchall
“Myaimistoempowerandun
informeddecisionsand,ultima
thatpersuadeshusbands,brot
attitudeandactivity.”
Toincreaseher backgroundkn
theworkof Azafady,Ailiemade
volunteerplacement.
Sheadmits:“Emotionally,attim
tracks.I hadtoturnawaytohid
scrapingthetoplayerofmudf
holefor theirfamily’sdrinkingw
“Imeta pregnant14yearoldin
child.Thatwas distressing.
“EverymorningasI walkthed
wearingaplastic bagfor anap
“Thebiggestincidentto raisem
beingdiagnosedHIVin FortDa
“Iwant toput moneybackinto
afragile ecosystemthatishigh
beingtakenas typicalof theW
needto keepa logicalheadon
ButAilierefuses tobe deflecte
comprehendsher undertaking
adds:“I feltso optimisticabout
projectfromthe beginning,ne
toooverwhelmed.I havenotfa
anyhostilityand whenI speak
BenanddescribewhereIam
hecan visualisebecausehe ha
beenhere.”
Hefullybacksherandwhenh
visits,therewillbe thebonuso
someextra responsibletourism
toMadagascar.
Champion Women’s
200,000 people have benetted from at least one of the health,education, conservation or construction projects
Two women sifting a mud hole to extract water; the rst child
diagnosed with HIV; a pregnant 14-year-old mother holding her
baby… these are among the stark images that have convinced a
25-year-old, newly-wed woman to leave home for a year.
Azafady:www.madagascar.co.ukVolunteersperyear: 120Projects:Englishteaching,schoolbuilding,communityconservation,sustainablelivelihoods,healthand sanitation
Ailie’saimsincludetraining
localwomentosowhealth
messagesthroughsinging,
dancingandappearingin
threecarnivals
Spotligh
he once lost a job because of her sleepwalking. But she is wide-eyed and
wake advancing the merits of vetted responsible tourism.
Jenefer Bobbin has a dream… to
ne-tune an innovative verication
scheme that throws a beam of light
to inform travellers and protect lowly-
aid workers.
enefer has always tried to keep the world
n the picture. Initially, she wanted to be a
V camera operator; instead she won high
raise for her skills in website development.
n between career shifts, she worked as a
hotographer on cruise ships.
oday she has her lenses rmly focussed on
system of verication that could resolve
ots of grey areas in responsible tourism
ompanies’ mission statements.
enefer has produced a manual of RT
uidelines and principles. Now is the start
f an ‘all-systems-go’ campaign to have it
ecognised, adopted and followed.
A handful of companies are showing
enite interest in the idea and, hopefully,
thers will join them,” she says.
n Nepal for the third time road-testing
erication progress, Jenefer adds: “I not
nly aim to set it up in Nepal but globally.
wouldn’t single out Nepal as needing
he process the most. They’re no worse
han many countries and, overall, I’ve b een
mpressed with businesses that have put
hemselves up for scrutiny.
Basically, rms interested must have a RT
olicy outlining their accomplishments on
ocial, economic and environmental fronts.
They will sign up to make an annual report
measuring achieved standards against their
upposed targets. These claims are then
ndependently checked.
t highlights or exposes shortfalls and
eciencies. The more companies in the
ystem the more it will weed out the
mposters.
think by understanding what companies
ren’t doing makes things more apparent
nd transparent for
the layman to help select with whom to
book.”
Jenefer, 35, from Cornwall, had executive
roles in London and New York before she
became disenchanted over a lack of RT as
a business ethos. She recalls quitting three
years ago a £30,000 position because it
was too intense to combine it with her RT
Master’s degree. “I decided to work for
nothing for nearly ve months with Nepal
trekking outt socialtours.com – where I
could mix my studies with some genuine
hands-on RT experience.
“I rented out my London at to enter
the unknown. It was a huge step. I
remember being in the taxi from Tribhuvan
International airport at Kathmandu, having
left a safe job, thinking ‘What have you
done Bobbin?”
Before departing, her mentor, Professor
Harold Goodwin, raised the subject of
developing a reporting initiative of p eople’s
RT successes compared with intent.
“To be honest, I wasn’t 100 per cent
sold on the idea but was happy to take
on the task as my dissertation. I felt this
would help open doors and give me the
alternative experience to get me out of the
IT pigeonhole.
“I’m now a rm believer of the verication
scheme. It is denitely easier for local
businesses to implement rather than a
complex (and often irrelevant) certication
scheme.”
Jenefer, with an engineering degree in
Information Systems and Multimedia
Communications, can smile now about
going walkabout in a trance below
deck and being medically discharged.
That pulled down the shutters on her
photographic ambitions.
Now she is walking a newroute – and is grateful for
the backing given her by
Raj Gyawali, founder-owner of socialtours.
“He let me work for his outt, using it as a
guinea pig. I helped enhance his RT policy
and then moved on to examine in depth if
his company was doing what it said.
“It was quite a shock for Raj to discover he
didn’t meet some of his targets. It clearly
signposted areas he had let slip. It made
him concentrate and refocus.”
Next month he undergoes his yearly audit
and report seeking verication. That means
closing the gap on his aim of “ten per cent
prots going on sta benets.” In previous
checks he had fallen well short.
The verication process comes strongly
into play monitoring porters’ treatment and
conditions. “Here Raj sets his load-carrying
limits low – at 20 kilos – partly because
he anticipates commonplace instances of
trekkers piling stu on the porters along
the way. Also he recognises porters can
solicit extra weight for the increased pay.
“You see girls as young as 16 carr ying 60
kilos,” points out Jenefer. “The heaviest
load I saw was 102k being humped by a
man wearing ip ops.
“The limits are supposed to be 30k, though
this isn’t enforced. All it takes is a couple of
hundred rupees extra (about $US3) for the
porter to be prepared to carry additional
luggage. I hired a porter who started out
just under the 20k but he volunteered for
a further burden when another trekker
joined our group. He insisted that his load
was easily manageable and confessed he
needed to earn more because his wife was
sick. I felt it wasn’t my place to tell him what
he could or couldn’t do.
“While many international companies’
porters go overloaded, that never happens
with the mules, conned to 50kg. There’s a
simple reason. They stubbornly won’t movewith excess baggage!
The human
workhorses accept abuse because they are
often remunerated by kilo rather than total.
“And there is always someone on the
sidelines prepared to step into their place
and do the donkey work.
“When I climbed Kilimanjaro in Tanzania the
porters’ loads were weighed before being
allowed through the gates to the mountain
trail. They are restricted to 20k maximum –
ten less than their Nepali counterparts.
“It needs a combination of companies,
trekkers and authorities to act.
“The verication scheme’s aim is to educate
people and highlight such practices.”
Socialtours boss Raj says: “Since we opened
in 2002 we have sought to have vision
and commitment to RT, doing things our
own way. We believe that responsibility is
something felt individually.
“Wehavebeeninvolvedin severalinitiatives–
energyusage,continuoussta development,
andliaisonswithnationaland international
partners–all tobroadenour knowledgeand
behaviour.But itwas hightimeto measure
againstpreachingandndfuture direction.
Therewerealwaysquestions:‘Whatareyou
doing?Howmuchresponsibilityispractised?
“We’ve always wanted to go deeper and
prove that RT makes perfect business sense.
Without doubt, auditing has benets,
provides proof and has tremendousmarket advantages.”
‘You see girls as young as 16 carrying 60 kilos…
The heaviest load I saw was 102k being humped bya man wearing ip ops’
Loads of Ambition
Jennefer– farsighted
Raj–keentoimprove
It’saweightymix…
muletrainsand human
carryon’s
Spotlight on Nepal
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Headmits:“Itwasa shotinthedark.I cashedinallmy
chips,astheysay.IfI hadn’tbeensuccessfulitwould
haveputmebacktozero.”Hesoldupeverythingand
histotallife savingsamountedto£2,000 whenhe
arrivedintheUK.Thatwassupposedtolasta year.
“I was very much like a horse with blinkers on
when I arrived in 2004. I wanted to be able to
return to Belize with something positive. I
thought I had prepared well yet at Gatwick
Airport I remember not knowing how to
catch a train to London or to Greenwich
University.
“Instead, I went by taxi and it
seemed to account for about 20
per cent of the money I had! I didn’t
make that mistake again.
“The first night I remember sleeping
between the mattress and the springs
because I was cold and had no bed linen.
The following day I got myself together.
“I was fortunate to get a job near the
university – working in McDonald’s.
They were hiring students. It saved me
financially. It was all a climatic, cultural
experience. I look back on it fondly. It gave
me increased expectations and drive
when I returned to Belize in 2006.”
Last summer, aged 30, he was back on
English soil on a legislative drafting
course – primarily for people who work
in parliamentary counsel offi ces or justice
and attorney general departments. He was the only one not in
the legal profession.
However, he was not a fish out of water. His father, Nicolas, 57, is a
lawyer with a small practice in Belize.
“I’m the first member of the family for couple of
generations not to go into law. That background
has enabled me in a lot of ways. I have inherited
the mentality, I suppose, to help me in
understanding the processes. “
His brief in London was to gain technical
know-how to advance government
guidelines and policies for tourism, which
has overtaken agriculture as the
main industry in
Belize – 52 per
cent of gross domestic product. “I’ve learned a lot of techniques
which can assist us,” says Yashin, never inhibited by breaking
new ground.
Belize , independent only since 1981, where the basic wage
is about $US2 an hour, is lucky to have exceptional men as
compelled as him to raise standards.
He adds: “What makes me feel good is to see first generation
young people at school able to do so because their mother or
father is employed in tourism. These wages support them to go
to university.
“This sparks me – watching these sons and daughters have
access to some of the chances that I got.
“Several examples warm me. One young man whom I work with
occasionally is an indigenous Mayan lad from southern Belize.
None of his family had been trained or attended university.
“His father took a job in a local hotel and it exposed the boy to
tourism. It inspired him. He got himself into the University of
Belize, finished his bachelor degree and today is running his own
tour operation company.
“He is from Toledo – my favourite area for its hiking and
appealing peace and tranquillity – and the region contains more
than 30 Mayan villages, where they have survived happily and
predominantly off subsistence agriculture.
“There is a Mayan High School, Tumul Kin, where the pupils
are trained in the traditional language, music, agricultural
practices and tourism
“That living culture has to be preserved, embraced and
encouraged. There is already a micro industry growing
with women selling their embroidery and basket ware.
The income can help fund education and electricity.”
Ruraleducation presentsdiffi cultiesbecause beyondGrade
6(age12)theprospectofattendinghighschoolislimited
bytransportandtuitioncosts.Tourismincomeis keyto
addressingthis. “We need to monitor tourism thresholds but
are starting to see a lot of imp
brought in systems and liaised
much more effective and ma
Yashin has two sisters, Simoan
graduates – who live in Florid
not tempted to join them.
“Belize can be hit by hurrican
great environmental disasters
something like that would ha
economic terms.”
There is also climate change
happen to The Great Blue Ho
200-mile Belize Barrier Reef R
in the world.
“We are investigating how to
programme to protect it but d
such scientific research. You h
“I have a three-year-old son D
what the world will be like for
“We have learned to deal with
always knew what people we
to appreciate it.”
BelizePrimeMinisterDea
commitmentsthattouri
country’seconomy.Tour
$183.3million
Onaverageonly40perc
mainlyboutique–areta
thereisscope Belizeisno
numbers.It isgarneringt
tolargelyundeveloped,
watching–withlimitedi
YashinDujonsays: “Aira
clear.Ibelieve ourprodu
complicatedforEuropea
viathe UnitedStates,Me
“Wearehopeful aboutin
course,theairline indust
“Ourpopulationis300,0
plus800,000 cruisetrave
testof protectingwhatth
howmanyyoucansafel
whoworksin tourism.”
spotlightfa
‘What makes me feel good is to seerst generation young people atschool able to do so because theirmother or father is employed intourism. These wages support themto go to university.’
FromLeft:Walking
aneline between
trainingforthetask
ofreceivingeager
cruisepassengers
andpreserving
everythingforthe
nextgenerations,suchasthree-year-
oldDamian
S
Y ashin Dujon has obsessively devoted much of his time
to what happens to his country.
“I have lived and been away from Belize many times,”
ays” but I am always drawn back and want to help it improve.
at we are doing now really e xcites me. Every day I love my job.
optimistic that the next 12 months will see huge progress
ur legislation policy and Master Plan for responsible tourism
h mandatory standards for sustainability. The idea has a lot of
mentum.
ere is much work to complete but I’m full of hope. We are just
ing started. We have a long way to go.”
hin, technical offi cer at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil
tion, adds: “There will be mistakes along the way but I’m
ng down the road to the benefits we will reap ultimately
m the effort being put in now.
ok forward to that chall enge to turn dreams into reality.
a student in Colorado I was oblivious about ‘dream catchers’
l a Native American Cherokee friend taught me about them
how they’re made.
u hang them above your bed to trap nightmares or to help
when in need of luck. The trick is you have to be given one
pal. I ended up giving mine to someone who needed it
e than me. I have not received one since!”
hin has made his own luck. By 24, he had completed studying
wo degrees. But he would never have imagined the path
ad as he departed a cosy family atmosphere in the capital,
mopan, to take a scholarship among 25,000 students in the
es.
ft a city that had just two grocery stores, a population of
0, one high school – the same children who were classmates
at three years old were still there with me when I left. It was a
tight-knit community where you knew everyone by name or
sight. You said ‘Good morning’ to everybody you met.
“I cried all the way to the airport and on the plane until I fell
asleep.
“I had been out the country before but never to a cold climate.
I found that my lightweight jacket was inappropriate for the
snow! Those four years greatly affected my life, not so much the
academic work but the exposure. I travelled an immense amount
– especially national parks – and saw cities such as New York,
Los Angeles, Houston. I was immersed in a completely different
society in a developed countr y. With different laws!
“I was used to buying beer. It was quite natural. So when I went
around the supermarket shelves on my first shopping trip I put
some in with my food. .
“Asked to give ID, I offered my Belize driver’s licence. It worked
then but not the second time. The cashier said: You’re only 16. I
can’t serve you. I was not allowed another beer all four years in
the US! “I was still too young to drink alcohol when I finished my
degree. I had to have a graduation celebration drink back home. “
Aged 20, qualified in natural resource management and
interpretation, Yashin landed “my dream come true ro le.”
He worked for five years as the Director of Parks and Personnel
for the Archaeology Department.
“I managed all the archaeological tourism attractions… ruins,
caves and parks. Forty-two per cent of the country is made up of
protected areas.
“I had been fascinated by archaeology since a lad, had visited
most sites. I used to joke that it was the one job in my life that I
would have done for free.”
But he agonised over what to do when
Belize was faced with big
problems after 9/11.
“It had a potentially ruinous
effect on our economy as travellers
shut up shop. There was a spell when
we couldn’t make ends meet before we
started to embrace the mass tourism
generated by the cruise ships.
“It was a financial success because it
prevented the country falling into
a visitor shortage. People could
consider it a necessary evil or
bask in its glory.
“For somebody like me mired in
conservation and preservation,
it was disastrous. We were looking
to control numbers in fragile areas. It was
frustrating.
“At the time we were not really equipped to take on so many
visitors – the average cruise ship passenger list was 3,000.
“The congestion was ridiculous, parking impossible. The
footprint was too heavy.
“I decided conservation wasn’t enough. It was my passion for it
that really drove me away.
“There had to be something else for me if I was to help tourism
drive the country.
“Looking back now I see that we had resources of high value.
And Belize has been able to resolve some of the issues. We have
better routes, roads. We are still upgrading and are at the stage
of balancing out the level of infrastructure required with what
we can accomplish.”
Six years ago he gambled his career to fly into England to take
a Master’s degree in Responsible Tourism, underwriting the
venture “at a cost of around £13,000 – an unattainable figure for
most in Belize.”
Dream Catchere learned about a dream catcher while staying in the United States. Today he catches,
ves, gives and chases dreams for the future of Belize.
‘There will be mistakes along the way but I’m seeing down the road tothe benets we will reap ultimately from the eort being put it now.
look forward to that challenge to turn dreams into reality.’
Spotlight on Belize
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eronica Tonge has loved skiing for 25 years. She is now living it 24/7 –
career, hobby, passion and campaign rolled into one.
She’s intent on showing the world it isn’t just a self-
indulgent pastime that pays no heed to the habitat. But
that it’s a power for good
m her London home in England, Veronica has started the
ly-unique responsibleskiing.comto prove this kind of holiday
protect the environment, introduce economic boosts,
serve energy, repopulate ghost villages and revive faded
ures and traditions.
says: “Winter sports tourism has often been targeted as the
t damaging activity around. I disagree. It can be a saviour
mountain communities. My aim is to work with the travel
ustry, destinations and the media to apply the principles of
onsible tourism to skiing.
witnessed new piste development where the landscape
seemed untouched. I couldn’t identify where
the work had been done. I’ve experienced
lifts – which have had a notoriously
blanketed reputation as noisy and energy-
sucking – so quiet you couldn’t hear them
50 metres away.
“And I’ve met farmers able to
continue making a living like their
forefathers.
“I want to help people
understand the issues and
encourage change, but also
demonstrate that skiing
responsibly doesn’t mean a
reduced experience.
“You can use logic to
prove it will be a better
ski holiday – one that
they’ll want to repeat.”
She willingly concedes a
massive skiing bias. People
have said she should have
trained to be an instructor after
starting the sport after 12.
Skiing was her St. Bernard,
and rescued her from her
first job in the City after graduating in business management.
“I hated it – and left after six months to go and do a ski season.
I had always been interested in the travel industry and had
nearly taken a tourism course. I relished each day working in
France among the skiers.”
Every role she undertook after that – whether in marketing,
business analysis, project management, or website
development – seemed merely a staging post to setting up
on her own three years ago. Veronica squeezed herself like a
concertina to study for a Masters in Responsible Tourism while
working full-time
“By then I was in the industry and had experience in online
and business travel, dynamic packaging, car hire and hotels.
I wanted more knowledge; to learn about the topics I had
seen while on holiday; how you balance the commercialism of
tourism with protecting the environment. I found that the type
of holidays I liked contained most of the responsible elements
but I wanted to investigate more. You will not be surprised to
learn that my masters’ dissertation was on skiing!”
She conducted surveys in the UK and Austria to find why
skiers chose a destination and whether they worried about
safeguarding its wildlife, local businesses and ensuring its
longevity. She also took a microscopic look at pistes, artificial
snow, lifts, infrastructures, communities, accommodation and
even diligently visited an organic waste water treatment plant.
She adds: “I’ve since continued doing extensive research and
worked with countries to understand their environmental issues.
“Lech in Austria was a fantastic positive example – however
throughout my travels I have seen the downsides of skiing and
tourism. Snow can hide a lot – it is often in summer that you
see the damage. What’s done is done. It is pointless looking
back in anger at the how, what and why of some examples in
Western Europe. What we can do is learn, improve operations
now and prevent mistakes in new developments. It needs a
blend of past, present and future.”
Veronica, 37, married to company director Mick – “I honed his
skiing, he taught me to play tennis” – has whizzed down the
black runs in more than 50 resorts across Europe, USA and
Canada and has visited at least as many for summer hiking.
One group of seven to eight villages in the Valais region of
Switzerland dwindled so devastatingly in the 60s that the
population was halved by migration. They were like the
forgotten people and, coupled with a lack of ambition, that
meant only one child every five years got to university.
“Today the area is revitalised because of downhill skiing and
tourism. Every year five to 10 children make university. There are
real viable work opportunities.
“Their location is ideal because skiing takes place largely above
the tree line, a large reservoir provides an hydro-electric system
which powers the lift network and the artificial snow production.
” However, they face diffi cult decisions – like many resorts – if
they are to progress further. Without building one more lift
to link two separate areas, they won’t be able to charge more
for skiers’ passes. That extra revenue is required to replace the
main cable car in a couple of years.
“The scope of skiing is opening up – China, Ukraine, Russia
and India are entering the marketplace. Eastern Europe is
developing venues and there is an emphasis on corporate
social responsibility. Countries such as Bulgaria have so much
potential, with beautiful scenery and fascinating culture,
but there are dangers in hasty development without local
community integration and strong infrastructure plans.
“Plans have to be produced for resorts which eliminate
poor practice. Many places are way ahead in green energy,
home insulation and recycling. Forest destruction should be
minimised and lost trees replaced with planting elsewhere.
‘I want to help people understandthe issues and encourage change,but also demonstrate that skiingresponsibly doesn’t mean a reducedexperience.’
SkiCrusader
spotlightfactsThelmstars’skiingplaygroundAspeninColoradois
notpussyfootingaround. Thecorporatemanagement
companyhasintroduceditsownclimatepolicyand
haslegallybounditselftoreduceannuallytheir
carbonfootprint. Theyestablishedtheindustry’srst
EnvironmentFoundationtogiveto localcausesinthe
community.
InAvoriazinFrancetheyhavecreated‘TheStash’–a
snowboardparkintheforestwithjumpsandrailsmade
entirelyoutofwood.Itis sustainable,easilyrepairable
andnotaneyesoreineitherwinterorsummer.
TheBewusstmontafonisa tourism/farming
partnership inAus tria’sMontafon Valley. Farmers’
incomeshavebeenincreasedbyremodellingcattle
rearingmethodsto dovetailwiththedistinctivefood
supplysoughtbyhotelsandrestaurants. Theycreate
entiremenusoutoflocalproduce.
Veronicahasseenlif ts,
energyand show
makingmachinery
allbecome
environmentally
friendly
Spotlight on Ski Resorts
RODOLFO RADA talks lovingly about
Laura as though his favourite
girl friend. In fact, it’s the name
bestowed on his ageing, sometimes creaking,
1987 VW Golf 1.6cc car that runs on burned
restaurant cooking oil.
Rada, an environmental ‘activist ’, covered 15
countries and 58,000 kilometres (36,250 miles)
in 669 days ending last March . He began at
Vancouver, Canada, and finished in his home
town of Punta Arenas, Chile, last stop before
Antarctica..
Target was Vancouver to Patagonia and back
in two years. Eco-warrior Laura needed a brake
and a break after her exertions, sometimes
carrying loads so heavy they bent her shaft.
Pioneering Rada, 28, is a rafting guide who
simultaneously campaigned against river
damming. He collected strangers as fellow
travellers who wanted to be part of the
adventure.
“This expedition relay attracted 16 people to
join me – ten nationalities as far flung as French
and Brazilian, ranging from anthropologist
to doctor to sports coach. It shows how the
environmental issues are global and the
responses required are in everybody’s interest.”
He was the only one to do the complete trip
and admits: “The project took many uppercuts
to the jaw; we looked up from the floor of the
ring to see no one. It was sometimes just us
battling. “
They brushed themselves down and remained
true to the objectives: spotlighting recycling,
pollution control, alternative energies,
sustainable practices, how to develop
responsible tourism throughout Latin America
and the action drive to keep rivers flowing
free. “I hope that we can
influence the way students
and others travel across
the continent,” he says.
The young idealists
shared driving, heartache,
highlights – and
breakdowns when Laura
had to be admitted to
‘hospital.’ Fortunately,
she survived all
surgery!
One passenger quit
through road rage,
another fell in love and
Rada’s good pal, Canadian
mechanic Steve Muray, who
had accompanied him on two
previous expeditions, flew home when his
mother became seriously ill.
Startedwith$US2,400, threekayaks,two
surfboards,oneraft,100litresused cooking
oil.Totalexpeditioncost: $US28.000with
$US20.000raisedenroute. Morethan500
restaurants,tengovernmentministries,ve
embassiesvisited.
During the journey Rada met Equador
President Rafael Correa, five environment
ministers, economics, sports and transport
government chiefs and did 80 presentations
and lectures to various audiences.
For a brief spell the team grew to five. They
didn’t even fit in the car and tensions grew.
Laura guzzled 8,000 litres of vegetable oil at
only 13-14 miles per gallon as she trundled
along catching all sorts of ‘ailments.’ The fifth
gear ‘blew’ in the final stages.
Lose10-15per centof powerand e ciency
onusedoil.Cruisingspeed56mph.Emission
down48percentcomparedwithdiesel.
“We completed our journey only because
of a network of amazing people,” he admits,
being given lodgings in a church and fire
station among other places. She carried a
back-up diesel tank – needed to ‘fire’
her and which gave 20 per cent
extra power. She took on
only $US500-worth of this
conventional fuel.
In Venezuela
they cashed
in paying $US80
cents for 40 litres!
There was the odd brush
with authority. Well, Rada was
pulled over 350 times by police
actually. But never fined. Instead of
a booking, the police usually added
their signatures to the 5,000
scrawled around Laura’s bruised
body.
In Colombia, one restaurant
had saved their cooking oil
for months and donated 300
litres to raise Laura’s cholesterol.
It prevented a financial crisis
because most establishments in
that country sell their oil for reuse.
Using cooking oil saved $US10.000.
“Latin American
restaurants
of their coo
millions of g
have a posit
society we n
explains Rad
He saw sign
interest amo
Programme
Nations Env
“Creating su
universities,
companies,
people who
– balancing
tourism ind
of importan
such as rive
Theyranou
Panama,Co
carcrashed
wererobbe
He’s set to ta
Climate C in
Rada and co
tragic earth
Learjet fell fr
passengers,
Minister. Six
Steve Muray
in Mexico C
When funds
photograph
Laura is 23, heavily tattooed and waits outside
kitchen back entrances to see what scraps she
can scrounge. It’s behaviour that has taken her
on exotic journeys.
Eating up the Mi
Canada
United States
Mexico
Columbia
Ecuador
Panama
Venezuela
Peru
Chile
Argentina
Costa Rica
Antarctica
Nicaragua
Honduras
El Salvador
Guatemala
Rodolfo verdict:Bestcountry: Colombia
Bestfood: MexicoandPeruBestbeaches: Montañita,Equadorand Pascuales,MexicoBestparty: PanamaCityBestconcert: RockalParqueinBogotaBestroads: USAand CanadaBestgirls: CostaRica,Colombia andArgentinaBestweather: Mexico
Through remote locations… with a
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8/8/2019 Spotlight 2010
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