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Vol. 3, No. 1 January 2005
Sustainable Travel Report
The Responsible Tourism e-Newsletter
In this issue you will find:
1. Message from STI President, Brian T. Mullis
2. Tsunami Relief and Development Tourism
3. STI Membership Drive
4. Survey: Global Warming Solutions
5. Travelers' Philanthropy: Muir's Tours
6. Conference Corner: Adventures in Travel Expos
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Message from STI President, Brian T. Mullis
I arrived back in the states three weeks ago after a wonderful honeymoon in Asia to learn about the earthquake and tsunamis that affected many areas that my wife and I visited and many people whom we met. We extend our deepest condolences to all of those who have been affected by these catastrophic events.
Though we are a relatively small organization, we are utilizing our resources to assist organizations that are focused on relief and aid. If you're not already involved, please join us in supporting relief efforts that are already underway.
During my recent travels, I was happy to learn about all of the eco- and sustainable tourism initiatives throughout Asia. And I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the NGOs, travel providers, and governmental agencies who took the time to meet with me during my travels; we look forward to working with you!
Best wishes for a happy new year,
Brian T. Mullis
President
brianm@sustainabletravel.com
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Tsunami Relief and Development Tourism
There are unlimited opportunities for donating to organizations that are providing relief throughout southeast Asia, and we have listed several notable programs below.
There has not, however, been attention focused on volunteering. While it is not always clear how charities and NGOs utilize the funding they receive, volunteering allows travelers to directly reap the rewards of donating their time and energy. By providing opportunities to work alongside those in need of help, it affords a much more intimate and personalized experience, especially if one has traveled to one of the affected countries before or if they have friends, family or colleagues that have been directly affected.
We have complied a list of organizations that are working toward organizing volunteers to help with relief and development tourism that will be undertaken in conjunction with other int'l and local charities:
AED Sri Lanka Peace Support Project
Email Kim J. DeRidder or visit the AED web site
Singapore National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre
Email feedback@nvpc.org.sg or visit NVPC's web site.
AID Tsunami Survivors Relief Campaign (India)
Email info@aidindia.org or visit the AID web site.
If you haven't donated to any organizations that are working on tsunami relief, please consider contacting one or several of the following organizations:
Indonesian Ecotourism Network: Aceh Relief Program
Email indecon@indecon.or.id or visit www.indecon.or.id.
Sewalanka Foundation (Sri Lanka)
Email penny@sri.lanka.net or visit www.sewalanka.org.
Responsible Ecological Social Tours Project (Thailand)
Visit www.ecotour.in.th.
Foundation for the People of Burma
Email info@foundationburma.org or visit www.foundationburma.org
The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI)
The Tsunami Rehabilitation Fund: mati@dhivehinet.net.mv
There are a number of additional ways you can contribute. Consider hosting a fundraiser, organizing an auction, or sponsoring an event and donating the proceeds.
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STI membership is open to individuals, companies, organizations and institutions that demonstrate support for and are committed to promoting environmental conservation, sociocultural responsibility, and economic profitability within the travel and tourism industry.
Our web site is consistently ranked within the top 10 on all of the major search engines for most eco- and sustainable tourism oriented search terms. Conscientious consumers know that STI's members are committed to the principles of sustainable tourism development!
So join STI today and take advantage of a number of benefits, including receiving exposure through all of our marketing outlets and 10-15% discounts on travel marketing and consulting services.
For individual travelers, you'll find that STI provides numerous opportunities to learn about how to travel more responsibly, what companies to travel with, and how to participate yourself.
Benefits include:
- Inclusion in our popular on-line Eco-Directory and in the Sustainable Travel Report e-Newsletter.
- 10-15% discounts off of reservation system packages from Adventure Central, search engine optimization from Adventure Find, PR services from Adventure Travel Media Source, listings with EcoTourDirectory.com, and business strategy and communication services from Anavo Consulting.
- Monthly e-Newsletter updates featuring industry best practices and sustainable development-related issues.
- Use of the STI logo in promotional materials and much more! So don't delay, join today.
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Sustainable Travel Survey:
Global Warming Solutions
The purpose of this survey is to inform consumers and businesses about the impacts of travel related global warming impacts. We also wish to assess consumer and business interest in a program that would offset the greenhouse gas emissions associated with air travel by sponsoring renewable energy projects that reduce an equal amount of released carbon emissions elsewhere.
If you're interested in taking our short 9-13 question survey (length varies depending on your answers), please click here.
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Travelers' Philanthropy:
Muir's Tours
Muir's Tours began in 1999 as the trading arm of a UK registered charity, The Nepal Kingdom Foundation (NKF). NKF is devoted to helping Nepalese people in Nepal and the UK to retain their traditions and culture. Since then, they've expanded and established relationships in a number of locations around the world based on input from Tourism Concern, the UK campaigning organization.
As a mission driven charity, Muir's Tours works closely with local communities, allowing travelers to gain a deeper and richer cultural experience. Meanwhile, local communities guide and host the groups, and therefore receive greater benefits than from traditional forms of tourism. In fact, Muir's Tours says local communities and partners retain 80 to 90% of the total paid by their clients (ignoring the cost of international flights). In return, these "Homestays" are very well received by their clients.
While group size is kept small, Muir's Tours also advises local partners on how to maintain and develop sustainable tourism solutions that protect and enhance indigenous cultures and the environment. Where available they provide locally produced alternative fuels in order to reduce the deforestation problem and the consequent land-erosion. In a number of places, for example, locally sourced staff research accommodation energy usage, allowing them to subcontract only those that are protective of the environment.
With regard to charitable giving opportunities for folks that travel with Muir Tours, all surplus above and beyond costs from each and every traveler goes directly to support their philanthropic mission. In fact, most of Muir's Tours employees in the UK are volunteers! When we asked Muir's Tours how this surplus is allocated, they responded: "We use the surplus in three ways - direct to community groups and also to Campaigning organizations, plus sponsorship of young and elderly Tibetans in exile. Donors direct the sponsorship; otherwise our funds are used in the first two categories."
How does this translate: Muir's Tours supports different community owned workshops in the Dharamsala area, for example, where they produce soft furnishings, carpets and craftwork for export. They also support a variety of community projects in Tanzania, Nepal and Peru, in addition to the Tibetan community projects in India. They also give financial and other support to two organizations, Tourism Concern and Survival International, which are working at improving the quality of life for A) poor people involved in tourism and B) the community groups who are negatively affected by tourism encroaching into their traditional areas.
To learn more about travel, giving and volunteer opportunities, as well as more details on their projects, visit our Eco-Directory or Muir's Tours' web site.
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Conference Corner: Adventures in Travel Expos
 Visit us at Adventures in Travel Expos in New York City on January 15-16 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center or in Washington D.C. on January 29-30 at the D.C. Convention Center. Over 500 worldwide exhibitors will present the best in adventure, cultural, and responsible travel:
- Interact with hundreds of exhibitors you won't meet anywhere else, and discover new destinations, tours and services.
- Try out new sports like rock-climbing, and kayaking right on the show floor, and enjoy music from around the world at the Global Beats Stage.
- Learn from the world's foremost experts including National Geographic's peerless photographers and writers.
- Bring the family to special events just for kids!
- Enter to win dozens of great trips and prizes! Plus bring your best travel photos to win National Geographic ADVENTURE Wild Angle photo contest.
- And save BIG with "Expo Only" discounts on the world's most compelling trips.
For more information, visit the conference web site or call 203-878-2577 x100.
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STI Outreach
Over 5,800 responsible travelers, travel companies, governmental agencies, and conservation-based organizations receive the Sustainable Travel Report each month. Please help us to expand our outreach by telling your friends about STI.
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For More Information
Please visit our web site, email or call 800-276-7764. If you want to spread the word about sustainable travel and tourism, link to us!
Should you not wish to receive this and other information from Sustainable Travel International, simply reply to this message with "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL
P.O. BOX 1313
BOULDER COLORADO 80306
PHONE 800-276-7764
EMAIL info@sustainabletravel.com
BUSINESS HOURS: 8am-5pm MST
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