| Lack of continuity is the Achilles'
Heel in responsible
travel and ecotourism.
For many players, it is easy to be sold on an ideal only to
experience frustration, disappointment and in many cases failure.
Successful tourism and conservation stragegies depend on security
and building quality relationships take time.
THE VALUE OF CONTINUITY
One of the benefits that continuity brings 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 via email and posts on
the Planeta Forum.
Offline
we have co-hosted an annual tourism fair in Oaxaca City from
2001-2009.
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! |
Inter-Institutional Meetings in Oaxaca - Abdon Vazquez/IMAC
