Sustainable Travel International | Travel Without a TraceÈ

Welcome to Sustainable Travel International's (STI) monthly Consumer Travel Report.

Our days are becoming increasingly exciting as more people and organizations are getting involved in the movement toward sustainable travel and tourism.

We've been getting busier - in a good way! Recently STI returned from the launching of the Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas in Bahia, Brazil. And right here in our home town of Boulder, Colorado, we participated in the celebrated Sustainable Resource 2003. Additional information follows.

We hope that you enjoy this month's features. Thank you for supporting sustainable tourism and choosing to travel responsibly.

STI recently participated in the launching of the first Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas in Bahia, Brazil from September 26-September 30. The Conference of the Americas on Sustainability Certification of Tourism Activities was organized by the Brazilian Hospitality Institute, the Rainforest Alliance and several other major conservation-based organizations to bring together the many organizations involved in promoting sustainable tourism certification.

Currently, the travel and tourism industry - the fastest growing industry in the world - is negatively affecting local cultures, environments and economies at an accelerated rate. As such, representatives from leading certification programs throughout the Americas met at the conference to define common objectives and form a network of initiatives focused on mitigating the tourism industry's negative impacts and enhancing its positive impacts through sustainable tourism certification.

The Network of the Americas' overarching goal is to support the travel industry in affecting a positive impact on the earth's resources and cultures. To achieve this goal, participants in the Network defined their mission as follows: "To promote sustainable tourism in the Americas through the strengthening of tourism initiatives based on mutual respect and recognition, joint efforts, harmonization of systems and the sharing of information and experience."

Network participants also defined their objectives which include generating environmental, socio-cultural and economic standards for sustainable tourism that are based on emerging regional and international efforts, establishing common frameworks and tools for certification, pursuing a joint marketing strategy, and defining strategies to help small, indigenous and local groups develop self-supporting eco-tourism projects and conservation initiatives.

Hosted by the Instituto de Hospitalidade and the Brazilian Government, this conference was a first in integrating regional efforts from organizations that are working toward best practices standards for Sustainable Travel and Tourism throughout the Americas.

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Right here in our own Boulder, Colorado, STI had the good fortune to participate in Sustainable Resources 2003. Hosted by the University of Colorado, Naropa University and the non-profit Sustainable Village, this year's theme was "An International Forum Connecting People with Hands-on Solutions to World Poverty."

The conference brought together leading visionaries from around the globe who are working on humanity's greatest challenges. Keynote speakers included such inspiring individuals as spiritual leader Matthew Fox, best selling author and environmental entrepreneur Paul Hawken, renowned sustainable business consultant L. Hunter Lovins, and Paolo Lugari, founder of Columbia's Gaviotas, an incredible model community for sustainable development.

The flow of information and sharing of positive energy and ideas was almost overwhelming throughout the conference, as representatives from numerous industries participated in what is sure to develop into one of the leading international conferences on Sustainable Development.

For our part, we made new friends, spread the word about our work, and gained new insights in our ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable travel and tourism industry.

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For 36 years, Holiday Expeditions has offered rafting trips on the scenic rivers of Utah, Colorado and Idaho. While providing enjoyable wilderness experiences, they also encourage the preservation of wild places and cultural treasures while supporting economic development in local communities.

As an example, Holiday Expeditions has been actively involved in assisting the National Park Service in developing the Colorado River Management Plan for Canyonlands National Park. The company also maintains their headquarters locally. Rather than moving to the tourist friendly town of Moab, they've opted to maintain operations in Green River, thus supporting a diversified economy in a small community.

It's Holiday Expeditions' opinion that if you run a truly sustainable business operation, you will holistically address the environmental, ecological, social, cultural and economic aspects of your operations in a responsible and thoughtful way.

All this and they have great rafting trips! For more information, you can search for Holiday Expeditions under "Paddling/Rafting" in STI's Eco-Directory.

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In an era of information overload, consumers are often wrought with the problem of too many choices. Which products are safe for their children? What companies are involved in sweatshop manufacturing? The almost overwhelming number of choices and decisions to be made also apply to making travel plans. Though most everybody travels, historically there have been few ways that consumers could make informed and responsible choices that are healthy for themselves and for the planet - until now.

As with other industries, a new form of brand recognition is emerging in the travel and tourism industry in the form of eco-labels or certification. Sustainable tourism certification provides consumers, resource managers and local communities with an assurance that a company's operations are backed by a commitment to the standards and best management practices of sustainable tourism. In doing so, certified organizations address the triple bottom line of economic, environmental and socio-cultural performance in their operations.

"In the food industry we use the 'certified organic' eco-label to delineate a set of standards for food products that are healthy for ourselves, our children, and the planet" explains Peter D. Krahenbuhl, Vice President of Sustainable Travel International (STI). "In the travel industry, Sustainable Travel International is promoting credible sustainable tourism standards and associated eco-labels, so consumers can more easily recognize tourism suppliers that are operating responsibly."

There is, however, a difference, between organic food labeling and sustainable tourism certification. For example, rather than a pass/fail system, STI is creating a rating system to measure the extent to which tourism suppliers mitigate their negative economic, environmental and socio-cultural impacts and enhance their positive impacts.

This, in turn, will assist consumers in making informed decisions, helping them to discern between companies who market themselves as eco-friendly and companies who actually engage in sustainable business practices.

Click here for more information on Eco-Labels and Sustainable Tourism Certification Programs.

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FREE Membership

At Sustainable Travel International, we're offering FREE 6-month "Supporting Business" memberships through February 28, 2004. This exclusive offer is only available to eco-tourism companies and tourism providers engaged in sustainable business practices. For more information, email or call us at 800-276-7764.

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For More Information

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