| Poor attention is a
proverbial stone
in the road for those working in ecotourism
and responsible
travel. Sustainability requires long-term focus and continuity,
not without a fair measure of flexibility.
INCENTIVES
In order to develop sustainability we have to move beyond an
on-demand world with a short-attention span. We must find ways
to extend our attention span as many of the critical issues
-- environmental and social -- require that we pay attention
for several years, not weeks or months.
One solution is focusing on improving our skills dealing with
flow, a state
in which attention, motivation, and the situation meet. This
results in productive harmony, then sustainability is an option.
Planeta.com reviews players,
aka stakeholders, working toward responsible travel and ecotourism.
Consult the worksheet
to review expectations and responsibilities of the players.
When we value attention, we create incentives for those working
toward ecological and cultural good will. One example is the
Ecotourism
Spotlight Award.
Focusing on place
improves the depth of coverage.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Instead of reinventing the wheel, conduct public inventories
and evaluations of work already underway. This will help avoid
duplication.
Foundations
should expand funding to existing projects and to individuals
and groups with a proven track record.
|