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EXPLORING ECOTOURISM

Understanding Ecotourism Certification
by Ron Mader

PLANETA FORUM

I sent the club a wire stating, 'Please accept my resignation. I don't care to belong to any club that will have me as a member.'
- Paradox Notebook


PHOTO GALLERY: Certification


BACKGROUND

In the past decade we have said that most ecotourism certification programs have failed to deliver a trustworthy system for locals and visitors. Certification -- while valuable -- requires at least a decade of consumer awareness and requests for it to become marketable. Our findings are detailed in the essay Challenge of Ecotourism Certification.

We also review some practical suggestions.

Since the Ecotourism Certification Workshop (2000-2003) we have shifted our focus from reviewing certification programs to marketing services, such as awards that promote responsible travel and ecotourism.

SPECIAL REPORT - CQ Researcher report offers in-depth, non-biased coverage of political and social issues, with regular reports on topics in health, international affairs, education, the environment, technology and the U.S. economy. EplerWood Report is offering a special opportunity to read the new CQ Researcher Report on Ecotourism (PDF).


FEATURES

g Awards
g The Challenge of Ecotourism Certification
g Ecotourism Certification: Practical Suggestions
g Ecotourism Certification and Marketing
g Marketing and Certification - Conference Excerpts
g Wishlist for Sustainable Tourism
g Green Events
g Greening Hotels
g Ethical Marketing of Ecotourism
g Certification at Oaxaca's Pochote Market
g The Great Training Robbery (Five Golden Piojos Certification) - Michael Kaye
g Comparing ICT Certification and The New Key - Beatrice Blake
g Reflections on Green Ratings - Anne Becher and Beatrice Blake
g Review: Ecotourism Certification
g Certification Workshop Summary
g Summary: Key Comments from the Ethical Travel Dialogue
g Planeta.com and Transitions Abroad Launch Responsible Travel Resource Directory
b Green travel schemes demystified - Guardian
b Travel globally, spend locally - Jeffrey McDonald/Christian Science Monitor
b Have you been greenwashed? - Guardian
b Ecotourism - CQ Researcher (subscription)
b Incredible Journeys: Across Indigenous Australia (PDF)
b Stop the Steamroller (links to powerpoint presentation)
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QUESTIONS

Under what conditions does certification improve tourism business practices?
Who benefits from ecotourism certification?
How well do certification programs include Web 2.0 tools including comments and critiques from visitors and locals?
Should tourism consultants, NGOs, government agencies and academics be certified?
Who certifies the certifiers?

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AUTHOR

Ron Mader is the Latin America correspondent for Transitions Abroad and host of the award-winning Planeta.com website.


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