QUESTIONS
What is the value of continuity?
Lack of continuity is the Achilles'
Heel in ecotourism and responsible travel. For many players,
it's easy to be sold on 'ecotourism' only to experience frustration,
disappointment and in many cases failure.
Successful ecotourism depends on security and building quality
relationships take time.
THE VALUE OF CONTINUITY
One of the benefits of continuity is that the process of communication
and organization is simplified over time. What works works, what
does not work changes. Long-term success requires a willingness
to collaborate over extended periods of time.
A traveler who plans a trip in advance and finds ways to stay in
contact afterward has a better chance of supporting continuity in
the development of tourism services.
WHY CONTINUITY IS ELUSIVE
While sustainability is gaining in public interest, daily reporters
generally do not have the time to investigate or report on long-term
development.
If the topic is considered 'hot,' officials dedicate time and money
in developing institutional presence in the field -- regardless
of whether it duplicates other efforts. When interest dwindles,
the project is shut down and personnel sent to other divisions.
We continue to see tourism managed by program directors with no
expertise and frequently little interest. Given that tourism development
and promotin requires travel, many leaders are on the road. This
leads to a start-go-stop-backward, go-again routine.
Many complain that bureaucrats just take up space. If they are
not actively sabotaging 'sustainability' projects, they are simply
neither supportive nor interested. "Every time a new tourism
official is put in charge of ecotourism, we have to teach them all
over again," a tour guide says.
Many newstakeholders are uncertain whether they their operations
will survive the coming year.
Until we can develop a longer attention
span, a high failure rate in this field will be the norm.And without
continuity, sustainability and tourism
ethics is a long shot.
PLANETA.COM
Here are a few examples of continuity on Planeta.com.
Working with colleagues, I have been able to stay in contact with
professionals more than a decade. We continue to hear from John
Shores and Ronda Green who contribute articles and post on the Planeta
Forum.
Planeta.com launched the Sustainable
Development Index in 1996 to assist researchers and journalists
covering environmental business and sustainable development.
Offline we
have co-hosted an annual tourism fair in Oaxaca City from 2001-2008.
RECOMMENDATIONS
We are interested in seeing how projects are born and mature. We'd
like to see more analysis of work that fails as such projects have
much to teach. Instead of reinventing the wheel, conduct public
inventories of work already underway. This helps avoid duplication.
All players need to make a long-term commitment (5-8 years minimum)!
Everyone - Pay kudos to individuals and instutitions
who have a track record. Give credit where it is due.
Everyone - Technical continuity tip: those creating
email accounts, flicrk galleries and such need to figure out how
to return and do the same task a day and a week later.
Everyone - Focus on place
instead of destination.
Donors and Foundations - Support the work that
is already underway. Instead of betting on a new solution, consider
the idea that perhaps the older solutions needed more time. Create
incentives for people working in the field. Donors should fund creative
extensions to existing projects, particularly with individuals and
groups with a proven track record.
Donors and Foundations - Conduct public inventories
and evaluations of efforts. Stop reinventing the wheel! |
