| What exactly is the
Green Tourism Association?
The Green Tourism Association is a non-profit, non-governmental
organization that works collaboratively with a network of businesses,
community organizations, government agencies, and individuals
to develop Toronto's urban green tourism industry. We direct travelers
and residents to the greener side of Toronto
through our web site and products.
How does the Association differentiate between what constitutes
ecotourism and environmental travel?
Ecotourism can be defined as travel that seeks to understand
the culture and natural history of the environment, without altering
the integrity of the ecosystem and producing economic opportunities
that make conservation of local natural resources beneficial to
local people -- a definition
used by the International Ecotourism Society.
Environmental travel is only one aspect of ecotourism. It could
be defined as the actual travel that takes place -- travel to
and within the area -- for example, staying on trails, recycling,
visiting the natural areas etc. and the use of sustainable transportation
in reaching the destination, whether it be taking the train to
Toronto from Vancouver or biking to the opera from a bed and breakfast
downtown.
It becomes similar to the debate over ecotourism vs. sustainable
tourism. You can sustain tourism in any area (ie: Fort Lauderdale
or Waikiki - sustaining the present state for generations to come)
but ecotourism is more akin to responsible tourism, which takes
into consideration the ecology of the area, natural and social
history and interaction, attractions, education of tourists and
conservation of that area for future generations. Urban green
tourism is ecotourism in the city that also encourages environmental
travel.
In your view, does ecotourism require an active component
of conservation?
Yes, conservation is an active component of ecotourism because
knowledge sharing and education are all multiplier effects of
conservation. If one person can travel to an area and then tell
someone else how they could have a lesser impact, then they are
taking part in conservation.
We certainly encourage people to engage in ecotourism in the
city that has a conservation component. As an example, we provide
a list of resources in the back of the guide where people can
find out how to get involved in the community and spend an afternoon
planting trees with a local naturalization group, or cleaning
up a river with a friends organization.
Part of what is so exciting about urban green tourism or ecotourism
in the city is getting people involved in the community - both
in terms of natural and cultural opportunities. It is significant
to make a personal connection to a place, whether it be through
exploring local culture and neighborhoods or being involved in
restoration projects, even if only for a few hours. We are trying
to expand the realm of possible urban experiences for both visitors
and residents.
What support does the Green Tourism Association receive from
the government?
Our major government support comes from Human Resources Development
Canada, providing us with core and project funds and from the
City of Toronto, providing us with a great deal of in-kind support.
We also receive significant funding from The Ontario Trillium
Foundation.
How do local businesses participate?
We have a paid membership base of 100 members for the year 2000
and just began our membership drive for 2001 in January. Our members
include a variety of green businesses including accommodations,
attractions, environmental visits, art galleries, ecotours, organic
& natural food stores, restaurants & cafes, shopping, theatres/performance,
transportation, heritage sites & museums, resource groups, green
spaces and special gardens.
What inspired this book?
The concept of urban green tourism itself inspired the guide
book. We produced "The Other Map of Toronto", Toronto's
first green map last summer (July 1999), and it was so successful
(within 6 months 2.7 million people worldwide had been exposed
to the map or information about the map) that we needed to address
the demand for more urban green tourism information. The
Other Guide to Toronto was the next logical step.
Who is the author of the book?
The Green Tourism Association is the author of the book. It
was a collaborative process involving the lead writer Bob Tremble,
staff, and the guide book committee of our board.
So, what are some of the best examples of ecotourism in Toronto?
There are so many great examples of urban green tourism in Toronto
that it is difficult to choose. Some of our favorite picks are
the Leslie Street Spit (a major migratory flyway), R.C. Harris
filtration plant (an art-deco filtration plant gem from the '30s
when public buildings were built as symbols, surrounded by a large
park with rolling lawns with and spectacular views of the Scarborough
Bluffs and Lake Ontario), the Humber River (declared a Canadian
Heritage River in 1999 with its virtually untouched marshes and
beautiful pedestrian bridge), the Royal York Hotel (an industry
leader in green accommodations, combining a proud heritage and
environmental practices), any of the 7 self-guided Discovery Walks
(created by City Parks and Recreation in different areas of the
city), Spadina House (a beautiful Victorian house museum HISTORIC
HOUSE and Edwardian gardens), the Don Valley Brickworks (a remnant
of Toronto's industrial past, combined with an awe-inspiring representation
of the city's geological and natural heritage) and Don River restoration,
visit any of the myriad neighborhoods by public transit or bike
and their diverse offerings of food from around the world, any
of the many local tours (Conservation Authority tours, bike or
blade tours, heritage walks and more), and the Guild Inn and Gallery
(overlooking the Scarborough Bluffs).
Were there any obstacles in the development of the guidebook?
If so, how did you overcome them?
Two challenges we faced were first, trying to identify all of
the diverse urban green tourism options in a city this size, and
second, how to organize the incredible wealth of information in
a logical and appealing way.
Much of the information and destinations we were most interested
in are the kinds of things that are not well publicized. This,
of course, was one of the main reasons we wanted to create this
guide - to provide a single source of urban green tourism information
for people interested in exploring the OTHER side of Toronto.
Major attractions (with a green slant) like the C.N. Tower are
listed in the book, but the emphasis is on green tourism - green
spaces, exploring culturally diverse neighborhoods, sustainable
transportation, local shops and small businesses.
In terms of the organizational challenge, we approached this
by trying out several different outlines and getting feedback
from people about the organization. We chose to organize the guide
geographically and take people through the city from the waterfront
north, traveling west and then east along each of the major streets
in the downtown, then following the verticals north (the Humber,
Don Valley and Yonge Street), and finally picking up the gems
around the periphery of the city.
It was a challenge to balance the amount of information we wanted
to include with producing a book that was the appropriate size
(small enough to stick in a back pocket) and within budget.
A consistent challenge we face is the determination of what
is "green." We describe green as not just parks and green spaces,
but as environmental responsibility, supporting local economic
vitality, culturally sensitivity and experiential richness. Our
members are businesses and organizations committed to taking the
next green step.
Will the book be available online?
It is being sold through our site, but the text is not available
online at this point. The information may eventually be made available
online, but this is only in the exploration stages.
Our website website
has current online resources include information on how to be
a green tourist, information on where to stay, where to eat, what
to see, do and buy and how to get there, as well as a listing
of all of our member. |
