Eco Tourism

Tourism Concern's Mission Statement: to ensure tourism always benefits local communities. What we do Tourism Concern has a wide range of exciting and innovative projects. We work with communities in destination countries to reduce social and environmental problems connected to tourism and with the outbound tourism industry in the UK to find ways of improving tourism so that local benefits are increased. We fight exploitation in tourism. Tourism for Communities Central to Tourism Concern's work is the fact that tourism often causes or exacerbates poverty. This is something that few people have fully realised, but which has received more credence over the last few years. Agencies working overseas are also increasingly finding that tourism development impacts on the lives of communities they work with in just the same way as other multinational industries might, such as oil and mining companies. Tourism Concern has been working since 1989 to raise awareness of the negative impacts of tourism: economic, cultural, environment and social. Advocacy is a major part of our work and time and again, the message from our Southern (Third World) partners is the same: "We want tourists, but at the moment we don't benefit from them." Communities often find they have tourism imposed on them by governments and foreign developers and tourism businesses; that there is little linkage between tourism especially at a mass scale - and local industry, such as agriculture; that land and natural resources are frequently co-opted, often illegally; and that their cultural traditions are appropriated and commercialised. Our links with communities and agencies working in developing countries show that there is great concern that the trend in tourism is towards greater control by multinationals, more all-inclusive tourism which excludes local people and businesses, and greater numbers. The consequence of such a trend proving true could prove disastrous for local people. The Tourism Industry We seek to work with the tourism industry rather than against it. We don't believe that considering the welfare of local people has to mean a `worse' holiday. Indeed, we would like to convince those who run and manage our holidays that tourism can support local people, cultures, environment and economies, while still be exciting and enjoyable. We have produced a book Corporate Futures: Corporate Social Responsibility in the Tourism Industry, A Consultation on Good Practice available from our webshop. Education Our education work links tourism to development issues both in schools and universities and in public settings. We have produced a video Looking Beyond The Brochure and lots of resource materials. We also give talks and lectures, run workshops and mount exhibitions. We are also working to link sustainable tourism development into tourism courses, which is essential if future policy makers and practitioners are to understand ethical tourism. Campaigning If only bad practice could be turned into good simply by holding a friendly and frank discussion around a table! Although that can sometimes work, it is difficult when large commercial interests are at stake. For us, public campaigning is essential, not least because public opinion matters increasingly to the well-being of private companies. Tourism Concern has been campaigning on human rights and tourism for several years. One of our main campaigns has been to highlight how people lose their homes and livelihoods through the development of tourism, and often for the creation of conservation areas. Imagine losing your home without compensation for a new hotel development. Imagine what it would be like to live without access to water because it was being hived off by hotels. We have particularly focused on the displacement of people, such as the Maasai, from their homes in East Africa as well as the situation in Burma. Burma is unique in that it has used slave labour to develop its tourism infrastructure as well as displaced people from their homes. At the request of the democratically elected government of Burma, our campaign work on Burma has involved encouraging tour operators not to go there until democracy is in place. Our campaign Trekking wrongs: porters' rights highlights the terrible conditions porters who accompany trekkers endure in mountain environments - carrying huge loads for very low pay in sub-zero conditions and without proper clothing, equipment, or even overnight shelter. Our recommendations to Government have been to create clear ministerial responsibility for out-going tourism, and that this must incorporate ethical tourism issues in its work. The UK government is now working closely with the Foreign Office's environment department and representatives from the tourism industry to develop a programme of sustainable outbound tourism. See the Campaigns section for more information. Fair Trade in Tourism You probably agree that organic food, non-GM crops and being environmentally-friendly are important. These days an increasing number of consumers want to be more 'people-friendly' too. This is often called 'fair trade'. If you've seen or bought fair trade coffee or bananas you'll know what we're talking about. Tourism Concern's Fair Trade in Tourism project takes fair trade one step further, into holidays. This means working with the travel industry to make things fairer for people living in destinations but it's also about showing every individual holiday-maker how they can play their part. We have distributed thousands of our All the Fun of the Fair: a quick guide to fairtrade tourism leaflets to travel agents which were sent out in tickets. We believe fair trade in tourism could be the way forward, and that fair trade will help define a new way of managing tourism which shares its benefits more equitably between travellers, the tourism industry, governments of the countries we visit, and above all, the people among whose homes we take our holidays. We have created an International Fair Trade in Tourism Network to enable us to find these solutions and communicate them world-wide so that communities involved in tourism can learn from each other. See the Fair Trade section for more information. Community-based Tourism We believe that holidays can be fun and also offer the possibility of doing something positive. We have been working closely with people from over 40 countries who are linked by a common thread of having created their own locally run tours or lodgings. We have produced The Ethical Travel Guide (Earthscan, £12.99), available from Tourism Concern's webshop or good bookshops, which allows any holidaymaker to take a community-based holiday. By producing this guide we are enabling these communities to market directly to potential customers, something that has, up until now, been very difficult for many of them. Public Awareness We work hard to raise awareness amongst the public about tourism's impacts. We are frequently quoted in the media and our website is well-used and carries considerable information. A few years ago we produced a glossy women's magazine on ethical travel, Being There, which was extremely well-received. This was distributed through the Body Shop and independent fairtrade shops country-wide. We hold regular debates, public events and exhibitions around the country - often inviting speakers from destinations to tell their unique side of the story for themselves. We have produced a series of lively and entertaining videos and codes for travelling and country-specific in-flight videos have been shown on various airlines. A lively DVD for young independent travellers, Your Place or Mine? is available from Tourism Concern. A Fairer Future for Tourism Tourism Concern is often approached by groups from developing countries asking for help to develop appropriate and responsible tourism. As we develop our strategies for Fair Trade in Tourism and as the public increasingly comes to support us in our work, we believe that there can be change in the tourism industry that enables local people to better benefit from this huge and important industry. To book a speaker contact talkingtravel@tourismconcern.org.uk or call 020 7133 3330. UK Black and Minority Ethnic Diaspora Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) people in Britain are an integral part of our society and therefore to ensure our campaigns reach all of the public, we wish to engage more closely with the UK BME diaspora. This is to ensure primarily inclusion but also to facilitate a deeper two-way exchange and promote discussion on tourism impacts. This project is very much about raising awareness of tourism, heritage, overseas development and tourism and racism, and the perspective of the UK BME diaspora. Tourism Concern uses the term Black and Minority Ethnic to include African, Caribbean and Asian people and seeks to ensure that a broad range of perspectives are represented in our work. Whether born in the country of ethnic origin or in the UK, there is a need for the BME population to be included in tourism dialogue and development education outreach. We would also like to find out what knowledge and understanding of global interdependence exists which for many in the BME community, is a personal reality due to ancestry/ heritage. If you have an African, Caribbean, Asian or Latin/ South/ Central American ancestry please complete the questionnaire - contact us for a copy. Our work would not be possible without our members. Join us today to ensure that tourism always benefits local communities

Welcome to Thuringia Thuringia has a lot to offer to visitors – unique tourist attractions and hospitality that has been legendary for generations. It would be difficult to find another region that offers s many culturally interesting venues in such a small area, including the numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Thuringia, like the Wartburg Fortress, the locations marking the classical era in literature and the Bauhaus in Weimar. Modern cities embedded in history Thuringia's cities breathe an atmosphere of more than thousand years of history and boast medieval fortresses, royal palaces and parks, impressive houses dating from the Renaissance, Baroque period or the era of Art Nouveau. towns & places Active in Thuringia's countryside The manifold faces of Thuringia's countryside encourage a wide range of active holidays. To make easier your selection of the right offer helps a brochure with 120 outstanding activities and their providers. Digitised Nordic walking, tandem tours, gold panning weekend, wood jump climbing cable garden, guest bobsleighing, wilderness school and a great deal more. order brochure Out-doors open for your holidays in Thuringia! The first electronic guest card for a whole state - the ThuringiaCard - is the key to 175 leisure time activities of the state and is available in three designs. Purchasing the ThüringenCard you will receive the Merian travel guide (in German) free.

Sark is the smallest of the four main Channel Islands, located some 80 miles off the south coast of England. Whilst only three miles long, and a mile and a half wide, it boasts 40 miles of what must be one of the most picturesque coastlines anywhere in the world. There are no cars, giving Sark an enchantment which is quite unique; its spell draws visitors back for their holidays, year after year. A wide range of accommodation is available on Sark, from award-winning hotels and restaurants, to self-catering and campsites. La Grande Grêve Bay Looking out towards L'Etac A visit to Sark, being the smallest independent feudal state in Europe, is a step back in time. Most people come to Sark for peace and tranquillity and to appreciate the scenery and abundance of wildflowers and sea birds. There are no cars, giving Sark an enchantment which is quite unique; its spell draws visitors back for their holidays, year after year. Put simply, it is the ideal holiday destination for all ages. The Channel Islands have belonged to the Crown since the time of William the Conqueror when they formed part of the Duchy of Normandy. In the 13th Century, they were retained by King John when the rest of Normandy was lost to the French. In 1565, Queen Elizabeth I granted Sark to Helier de Carteret as a 'fief haubert' and the island's unique status has remained the same ever since. Today, Sark holds the last remaining feudal constitution in the Western world; neither part of the United Kingdom nor European Union, yet not a sovereign state either. The Seigneur holds the island from the Monarch in perpetuity, and governs in conjunction with Chief Pleas, the island's parliament. La Seigneurie No cars are allowed on Sark La Seigneurie is the official home of the Seigneur of Sark, head of its feudal government. The present house, built around 1675 has been altered and added to many times over the years. The house is not open to the public, and remains the permanent residence of the present Seigneur and his family. The grounds of the house are open daily, and their beautiful walled gardens are one of Sark's most popular attractions. With a coastline of some 40 miles, Sark stands approximately 350 feet above sea level. Dark caves indent into the cliffs and huge austere-looking perpendicular rocks lie in isolated and detached masses off-shore. The varied inlets and bays possess a wealth of sea and bird life. The island's isolated position affords it a large array of bird species, and many hours can be spent watching and admiring the abundance of wildlife. Brecqhou Sunset from Sark's west coast There are many ways to experience this island of infinite variety - by carriage, bicycle, or on foot. The coastal scenery is spectacular with numerous bays and headlands to admire. Sark is a ramblers paradise, and there are far more coastal walks and bays than there are days to explore them. Whatever a visitor's interest, many return year after year to continue the experience of peace and tranquillity that Sark offers. An experience unique in today's world. Visitors to Sark are well catered for with several shops that carry most essential provisions. Newspapers are delivered from the Mainland each day, and there is a regular postal service. Sark has its own Doctor's practice, and in emergencies, a special sea ambulance is available from the neighbouring island of Guernsey. There are regular events throughout the year, aimed at both islanders and visitors alike.

About Samoa The 'Treasured Islands' of Samoa are the crowning jewels of the South Pacific. Surrounded by the warm crystal clear blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, here travellers will find islands blessed with natural beauty, a tropical paradise where the environment is pristine, the people friendly and hospitable and a living culture treasured by all. Discover what the great writers of the 18th Century, Rupert Brooke and Robert Louis Stevenson, discovered during their visits to Samoa after searching the world for paradise. Samoa's natural wonders of waterfalls, rainforests, mountains, volcanoes, and miles of white sand beaches beckon the adventurer seeking peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of modern society.The Samoan people are eager to play hosts to visitors from afar and share their hospitality. Experience a holiday destination like no other, uniquely tropical, exciting and distinctively Samoan. Culture A vibrant, living Polynesian culture, the Fa'a Samoa (the Samoan way), virtually unchanged for over 3,000 years, centres around the extended family unit full of love and respect for all. History First inhabited by humans over 3,000 years ago, Samoa has a long rich history that includes everything from island invasions to territorial squabbles between Germany, the US and Britain, to the place where renowned author Robert Louis Stevenson chose to spend his final days. Geography Find out more about Samoa's rugged volcanic landscapes, its pristine coastline, and its tropical flora and fauna. Or if you're still not sure exactly where Samoa is, come this way for a quick geography lesson. Quick Facts Quick facts about Samoa at a glance, including information on population, climate, language and public holidays. If you can't find what you're looking for here, don't forget to also check out our Travel Info section for other information to help you plan your trip.

Welcome to Saba! Saba is ideal for the traveler looking for a secluded haven, in peaceful and friendly surroundings. Rising steeply from the azure sea, the tiny island in the Caribbean is a magical experience far away from the cares and worries of today's hurried world. Four small villages are as quaint and charming as the gentle, friendly manner of the Saban people, descended from hardy 17th century pioneers. Visitors feel they have stepped back in history, yet many modern luxuries are here to be enjoyed. Saba is a monument to nature's best above and below the ocean's surface. The famous Saba Marine Park is second to none. Saba is a magical place for scuba diving, hiking, admiring the nature or honeymooning! The Unspoiled Queen Imagine an island in the Caribbean untrampled by time. Imagine unspoiled landscapes that make you feel like an early explorer, and friendly English speaking people who make you feel at home. All this is Saba... Saba voted the best island in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas in Travel + Leisure Magazine's 11th Annual World's Best Awards! More>> Win a free trip to Saba! Saba Divers & Scout's Place Hotel, together with Nautilus Dive Travel is running a sweepstake from April 15 - May 15, 2007 on Germany's greatest online dive site www.taucher.net. Check it out and win free airtravel, 14 nights in the hotel & 14 dives with Saba Divers professional Dive Center. Win a trip for free!!! More information : www.sabadivers.com -- Saba Divers awarded "Best Dive Center in the Caribbean 2006" Gewinnspiel: Eine Reise nach Saba! Saba Divers & Scout's Place Hotel, zusammen mit Europa's erstem Tauchreiseveranstalter "Nautilus Tauchreisen" bietet ein Preisausschreiben fuer den ganzen April 15 - May 15, 2007 auf Deutschland's groesster Taucher website: www.taucher.net an. Mit machen und gewinnen!!! Flug, tauchen & wohnen auf einer der schoensten Inseln in der Karibik fuer umsonst! Mehr erfahrt Ihr bei: www.sabadivers.com / Saba Divers ist Gewinner des "tauchen" awards "Beste Tauchschule in der Karibik 2006" Explore Saba We invite you to explore our island. Here are some highlights... Tentative Carnival Schedule 2007 The Saba Carnival Festival Foundation would hereby like to make known that this year's festival will be held during the last week of July, the festival will be held for the entire week as is done every year. The festival will kick off on July 23rd with the official opening, with various activities scheduled throughout the week. Jouvert morning will be on Saturday July 28th there will only be one day of parade, on Sunday July 29th. The official carnival schedule will be announced at a later date. For more information contact the Foundation Secretary Ludwina Charles at cell 5227051 or at ludwinacharles@hotmail.com or Antonio (rebel) at 599-416-5440 We hope too see you on Saba for Carnival 2007! Highlights from 2006! Saba Rollercoaster... You can now travel the length of Saba from the airport to Fort Bay ,in 4 minutes thanks to Jumbie Design's (A.K.A. Malachy's) short film. More>> Wild orchids of Saba Orchid specialist Stewart Chipka of Naples, Florida, spent two weeks on Saba in January creating a scientific map of the location of wild orchids on the island. More>> Beneath the Surface Saba's beauty extends below the waterline into an exciting marine environment rich in corals and active with fish life. More>>

PRIMATE TOURS NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK Extending for 1,000 square kilometres across the majestic hills of southeast Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest National Park is the largest block of montane forest in East or Central Africa, and one of the most ancient, dating back to before the last Ice Age. A uniquely rich centre of floral diversity, the forest has more than 200 different types of tree, and a myriad of flowering plants including the other-worldly giant lobelia and a host of colourful orchids. Nyungwe is most alluring for its primates: 13 species in all, including humankind's closest living relative the chimpanzee, as well as the handsome L'Hoest's monkey and hundred-strong troops of the delightfully acrobatic Angola colobus. The most important ornithological site in Rwanda, Nyungwe harbours almost 300 bird species of which two dozen are restricted to a handful of montane forests on the Albertine Rift. The avian highlight of Nyungwe is the great blue turaco - an outlandish blue, red and green bird which streams from tree to tree like a procession of streamlined psychedelic turkeys. An extensive network of well-maintained walking trails leads through the forest to various waterfalls and viewing points. A comfortably rustic resthouse and perfectly situated campsite lie alongside the main road, and the reserve can readily be visited as a day trip from the towns of Butare and Cyangugu. Nyungwe does, however, deserve more time: anybody who wants to track chimps and see several varieties of smaller primate will need two days there - and dedicated birdwatchers might never want to leave! Accommodations: For more information on accommodations available in Butare, click here For more information on accommodations available in Cyangugu, click here MOUNTAIN GORILLAS The Virungas are the last outpost of the endangered mountain gorilla, and their lush slopes provide an appropriately dramatic natural setting for what is perhaps the most poignant and thrilling wildlife experience to be had in Africa. Nothing can prepare the visitor for the impact of encountering a troop of gorillas munching bamboo in their unfenced natural habitat. The sheer physical presence of an adult male silverback - three times as bulky as the average man, yet remarkably peaceable and tolerant of human visitors - defies verbal description. Nor are there words to convey the thrill of recognition attached to staring deep into the liquid brown eyes of these gentle giants, who share some 97% of their genes with humans. That mountain gorillas survive today is largely thanks to Dian Fossey, who is buried at Karisoke, her research centre in the Virungas, alongside some of the animals to which she dedicated her life. Fossey became a household name following the release of the biographical film Gorillas in the Mist, which was set in the Parc National des Volcans, and shot on location there. Critical and public acclaim ensured that Gorillas in the Mist also served to raise international awareness of the plight of the mountain gorilla, whose numbers have increased from an all-time low of 250 in the 1970s to almost 400 in 2001. Roughly half of the world's mountain gorillas are resident on the Rwandan slopes of the Virungas, where four habituated groups - ranging in size from seven to 37 individuals - can be visited by up to 32 tourists daily. Permits to visit the gorillas are issued by the Office Rwandaise du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN) / The Rwanda Tourism Board, in Kigali or Ruhengeri. Accommodations: For more information on accommodations available in Ruhengeri, click here BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES AND ORCHIDS Rwanda’s location in the Albertine Rift and its dense forests and mountains create a unique and remarkable environment for the ecotourist to enjoy. Though small, (about 250km east-west by 150km north-south), it has a bird list of over 670 species and supports a higher number of Albertine Rift endemics than any other country outside the DR Congo. The wetlands and lakes of Akagera National Park is home to the elusive Shoebill stork, and is one of the easiest sites in the region where it can be seen. In addition, Akagera supports a mixture of acacia and papyrus species, including red-faced barbet, Bennett`s woodpecker, papyrus gonolek, white-headed, black and familiar chats, Carruther`s and Tabora cisticolas, white-winged and broad-tailed warblers and miombo wren-warblers. The existing lodge at Akagera is being renovated, but there are plenty of camp sites to stay at while exploring the park. It is a rewarding trip for visiting birders, who will find a supporting cast of large mammals, including hippo, elephant and giraffe. In the southwest, just a few hours drive from Akagera, Nyungwe Forest National Park is a vast tract of virgin forest, one of the largest uncut natural forest reserves remaining in Africa and home to more than 300 species of birds, 27 of which are regional endemics. Much of the forest is unexplored, with access being extremely difficult, because of the steep high hills and deep valleys. However, an excellent winding tarmac road bisects the forest, following the crest of the mountains. This road is one of the few places in the world that allows the visitor to look directly into and even down on the rainforest canopy. Along this road you can find most of the Albertine Rift endemics, including handsome francolin, Rwenzori turaco, mountain sooty boubou, Rwenzori batis, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Archer`s robin-chat, Rwenzori hill babbler, Grauer`s rush, Neumann`s and Grauer`s warblers, masked mountain apalis, stripe-breasted tit and Strange weaver, and a full range of Rwenzori double-collared, purple-throated, blue-headed and regal sunbirds. A speciality is the red-collared mountain babbler, which has its only easily accessible site here, as does Kungwe apalis. Recent possible sightings of Rockefeller`s sunbird show that much is left to be discovered, and perhaps even such gems as the Congo peacock (found only 70km distant in the DR Congo) could exist in the remote dense forest! There are also good forest tracks for birding based around the ORTPN Guesthouse at Gisakura, and the ORTPN Campsite at Uwinka, where some of the more skulking species can be seen such as the red-throated alethe, Archer`s robin-chat, Kivu ground thrush, collared apalis, and Shelley`s and dusky crimsonwing. Other special birds here include white-bellied robin-chat, Doherty`s and Lagden`s bush-shrikes, white-tailed blue flycatcher, great blue turaco, barred long-tailed cuckoo and white-bellied crested flycatcher. At night, Rwenzori nightjar is not uncommon, Albertine owlet may be found, and there might be a possibility to see the Congo bay-owl. Add to this the presence of 13 primates, including chimpanzee, more than 100 different butterflies and over 125 varieties of wild orchids and this should be a site on any birders must-visit list.