Many tour operators have been incorporating ecologically and culturally sustainable principles into their offerings for years. However, there has been no measurable and consistent way to promote or choose a responsible provider. In fact, many destructive tour operators have labeled themselves as eco-friendly to attract travelers. To address this issue, certification programs have been emerging […]
What some have dubbed as the new tourism niche, nuclear tourism–in which travelers visit atomic power plants and other nuclear-related sites–is quickly becoming all the rage and drastically altering how some people choose to spend their vacations. One need only look as far as the Trinity test site in New Mexico, which comes fully equipped […]
In its biennial report released in Beijing on October 24, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) claims that if the world’s consumption of the Earth’s resources is not dramatically altered, human beings will need two planets’ worth of natural resources by the middle of this century. An “ecological footprint” is the environmental impact or demand that […]
Each year in Vietnam, nearly 3,300 tons of illegal live wildlife and animal products are shipped in and out of the country. Although trading exotic wildlife is technically illegal, the practice persists because demand and profitability remain high. A new report by the Wildlife Conservation Society says that the trade is a $6 billion-dollar-a-year industry […]
For the first time in five years, the National Park Service has overhauled its management policy. Passed in committee at the end of August, the policy’s official purpose is to “prevent impairment of park resources and values [and] ensure that conservation will be predominant when there is a conflict between the protection of resources and […]
Most travelers have heard of the brand, if not the man, in the form of Virgin Atlantic Airlines; the Virgin Group of Companies also has stake in the railroad industry. Founder Richard Branson has committed all proceeds from the company’s transportation interests (totalling $3 billion over the course of 10 years) to be donated to […]
Many would agree that Syria is home to a proud people with a great cultural tradition. It is well known to tourists for its religious travel as well as its significant historical value. Although the history of Syria has been a tumultuous one, having undergone several periods of political instability, it is still best known […]
Microsoft Corporation and the United Nations have partnered to create an online infrustructure they say will improve tourism in Africa. The idea is that increased promotion, centralized information, and connectivity will lead to a more efficient tourism sector and increased visitation, ultimately contributing to the attainment of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. In addition […]
The isolated and biodiverse archipelago of Galapagos is a double World Heritage site, with both the land and the marine area being protected. While Galapagos is in many ways thriving, the flora and fauna are being threatened by invasive species. More than 600 miles off the Ecuadorian coast, Galapagos has a rich ecology which caught […]
