Community-based ecotourism has been facilitated in Giao Xuan by NGOs, such as Volunteers for Peace in Vietnam (VPV) and the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), which aim to reduce the strain on the local natural resources. They do this by promoting hospitality as an alternative income to destructive fishing and aquaculture techniques which have damaged the nearby national park. The money paid to the host family stays in the community and does not go to any sort of global corporation.

(This article was first published by our friends at whl.travel, who have agreed to its republication here.) In April 2001, John and Silvana Nicholls, today owners and operators of Vanuatu Hotels, arrived in Vanuatu to launch and manage the new White Grass Ocean Resort on the island of Tanna. It was their intention to ensure that it would operate according to strict environmental guidelines, so they immediately declared it a bird sanctuary, protecting fowl from the indigenous practice of hunting and eating them.

(This article was first published by our friends at whl.travel, who have agreed to its republication here.) Somewhere along the line we have all heard of the Maldives, renowned for their turquoise waters and year-round idyllic weather. With over 1,000 islets and 26 atolls, the Republic of Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean about 700km southwest of Sri Lanka. Beauty through purity is one of the things that make the Maldives a premium romantic location targeted by honeymooners. However, unlike the typical visitor, why not jump at the occasion to see the country from a completely different perspective

Boundless Journeys recently received Travel + Leisure Magazine’s annual “World’s Best” Award as the #7 best tour operator in the world. Offering a range of small group and expert local guide trips for adventure travel vacations worldwide, Boundless Journeys continues to braze new trails in innovative and enriching adventure experiences. Diversity of adventure, unique itineraries and local expertise are among the most important ingredients that have defined the success story of Boundless Journeys.

P.A.P Corp. is an eco-friendly hotel company with 4 hotels in Thessaloniki and Halkidiki and a Hotel and Restaurant Management School (HOTELIA). Active member of TIES, Clean up Greece, Legambiente, WWF, and HSPN (The Greek Society for protection of Nature), P.A.P Corp. contributes to socially and environmentally responsible tourism practices locally and internationally. The company is also an active supporter of such initiatives as the Happy Tourist project and Europe for All, to promote accessibility tourism.

We were the five women who had traveled to Senegal with Women Travel for Peace. Our goal: to fund and help construct a sturdy, concrete well for the women’s farming collective. While this project had begun several months before our arrival with village meetings and discussion, on this, our last day in the village, we were all ready to inaugurate and celebrate our much needed contribution. Women Travel for Peace’s community-based tourism enables women from the industrialized world to work side-by-side with women in the developing world in support of a community project.

La Selva Jungle Lodge, located in the heart of the pristine Amazon Rainforest of Ecuador has created what they call The Indigenous Spa, offering rejuvenating treatment by two native Quichua Indigenous women. This unique 1 hour and 20 minute spa treatment features native plant-based “rainforest spa” products and is a spiritual and educational experience. The treatment, for instance, includes a magical dusting away of evil spirits with special leaves, a foot massage with special scented plants from the forest..

From TIES EcotourismTrend YouTube subscriptions: Our favorite beach & ocean eco-videos! Seacology: Seacology’s Indonesia EcoReef project – Manado Tua Island is a towering extinct volcano fringed with picturesque reef drop-offs and capped with a rainforest at its summit. The island’s 3,200 inhabitants form a very tightly-knit community of farmers and fishermen who cling tenaciously to their Sangir cultural traditions. Large sections of Manado Tua’s coral reef have been reduced to rubble fields due to blast fishing activities that took place over a decade ago…

“Hamanasi is a Belize Eco Resort nestled in 21 acres of rare coastal forest teaming with birds, flora and orchids. Hamanasi believes in responsible, nature and cultural based ecotourism. We understand the importance of preserving our environment and indigenous communities. Hamanasi is committed to protecting our ecosystems and their biodiversity by taking continual steps to be more environmentally friendly and aware. We actively encourage all employees – the vast majority of whom come from the surrounding communities – and visitors to participate in these endeavors.”

“Galápagos is going through rapid population growth and economic development, yet its educational system is not developing at the same pace, contributing to a continuous dependence on professionals from mainland Ecuador and, consequently, an increase in migration to the islands. Building local capacity by training the next generation of conservation leaders is important… we are building a cadre of local people who are committed to the unique Galápagos environment and can fill technical jobs, thereby reducing the number of people who enter the islands on temporary work permits.”