A new land conservation effort in Montana is helping to preserve the state’s natural areas through an innovative partnership between visitors to the state, the hospitality industry, private landowners and nonprofit land trusts. The program, known as Travelers for Open Land (TFOL), collects voluntary donations from visitors to Montana to fund grants to preserve the […]
Nearly a third of Nairobi’s population lives in the Kibera slum, the world’s second largest informal settlement, yet the Kenyan government does not recognize its existence. The lack of government aid has taken its toll on public services. There is just one toilet for every 1,300 residents, and high crime rates drive most people to […]
The recent publication of a guidebook about Burma’s Shan State highlights the destruction and repression of its culture and people by the Burmese military junta and reveals the darker side of tourism in that region. Entitled “Forbidden Glimpses of Shan State,’ the book was published by Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) to bring readers’ attention […]
The nominees are in and voting is underway for the 2010 Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award (ITBWA). Fifteen tourism operations representing 10 countries will compete for the award, which recognizes private tourism enterprises owned and operated in a sustainable manner by indigenous and local communities pursuing traditional lifestyles. Two awards will be given, one […]
Ecotourism is getting a face lift in Egypt’s Dakhla Oasis, where visitors who want to experience the natural beauty of the desert without wasting local resources can head to a new crop of eco-lodges that have sprung up in response to local concerns. According to news reports, local villagers worry that too many tourists might […]
Is there such a thing as a sustainable cruise? After all, cruise ships emit three times as much carbon dioxide as airplanes, according to an article in the Telegraph. The fact that many passengers fly to their cruising destination only compounds the carbon footprint. Then there’s the issue of pollution. According to the environmental group […]
Over the past few years carbon offsets have become a popular tool for combating global warming, but recently ethical travel advocates have begun to question the practice. One prominent organization, UK-based responsibletravel.com, recently decided to stop selling carbon offsets to its customers. Carbon offsets or credits are most commonly purchased by travelers to help counteract […]
Even after a decade of debate, the question of whether or not tourists should travel to Burma remains a much-contested issue. Evidence suggests that travel to Burma only indirectly supports the military regime’s harsh policies with tourist dollars. Is a boycott appropriate or counterproductive? Those in favor of boycotting travel cite the Burmese government’s disregard […]
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides North and South Korea—once described by Bill Clinton as “the scariest place on earth”—is being promoted as an ecotourism destination. Located an hour north of Seoul, the 249-kilometer (155-mile) long, 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) wide DMZ is known more for its armed soldiers, land mines and barbed wire than for being […]
