The reservations of South Dakota’s nine Native American tribes have consistently been among the poorest areas in the United States, suffering the detrimental effects of rights abuses, loss of traditional land, discrimination and harmful federal policies, both in the past and the present. Unfortunately, mainstream media have too often focused on the high rates of […]
As Brazil prepares to host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, there are a number of pitfalls the government must avoid in order to have not only successful tournaments but also a prosperous country in the following years. Unfortunately, the Brazilian people see their politicians making the same mistakes […]
Coastal tourism is the most rapidly developing area of the tourism industry, and with good reason. With a large portion of the landmark one billion people who traveled internationally in 2012 flocking to beaches worldwide, it’s no wonder that developers are taking note. And with tourism becoming an ever more important industry in developing countries, […]
Purchasing a plastic bottle of water or two while traveling may not seem like a huge deal on an individual level, but multiply that by the number of travelers crisscrossing the globe every day and the impact is massive. On a global scale, 2.7 million tons of plastic are used annually for water bottles. Of […]
Tourism is the world’s largest industry, and it grows larger every year. In 2012, for the first time in history, international tourist arrivals surpassed one billion. In 2011, international tourism receipts exceeded $1 trillion. Hand in hand with this extraordinary development of global tourism is an unprecedented level of interest in responsible travel. In a […]
Summiting the world’s highest peak is a feat unto itself, but for many who have paid in the range of 35,000 to 50,000 US dollars, the ascent of Mount Everest can be deadly not only because of the harsh conditions but also because of overcrowding. In recent years, the popularity has grown so much that […]
The World Travel and Tourism Council recently announced the winners of the 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, which recognize world leaders in sustainable tourism. According to the Council, the awards were created to highlight and honor best practices “beyond short-term considerations (and the) benefits not only for people who travel, but also for people in […]
Watamu Beach in Kenya attracts flocks of tourists who spend their days sunbathing, snorkeling and diving along hundreds of miles of coastline on the Indian Ocean. Yet increasing tourism—Reuters reports total visitors to Kenya as a whole rose 15.4 percent to 1.26 million in 2011—and other human-induced factors are putting marine wildlife, particularly sea turtles, […]
Although increasing numbers of hotels, resorts and tour companies support sustainable practices, these “green” options often come at a premium. As a result, travelers sometimes feel as though they must choose between their environmental consciousness and their budgets. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. Making simple choices to go green while traveling may […]
