PLANETA

Planeta.com Partners with Geotourism Challenge

PLANETA FORUM

Publication date: April 2008

PHOTO GALLERY: Maps
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Planeta.com is pleased to partner with the Geotourism Challenge, working to create opportunities for collaboration and innovation in sustainable tourism around the world.

"We have a strong respect for Ashoka and National Geographic," said Planeta.com's Ron Mader. "We have been a bit confused about the word 'geotourism' and hope this competition will show the principles in action."

Planeta.com has long been a proponent of place-based tourism that encourages positive interaction among visitors, locals and place.

"It's great to see so many of our colleagues entering the competition. We look forward to the discussions that follow," Mader said. "It's great to see colleageus with whom we have worked entering the competition, including Beatrice Blake and ACTUAR in Costa Rica, Andres Hammerman and Michelle Kirby in Ecuador and Bill Hinchbeger's Brazilmax travel guide and Aivar Ruukel's work preserving Estonian dugout canoe heritage. While these colleagues did not make the cut for the finalists, their work is truly an inspiration.

Ashoka's Changemakers.net allows anyone to participate in this competition, which is a global search for innovations in tourism that sustain, enhance and preserve local culture and environment.

YOUR TURN - Planeta.com hosts the Travel Definitions Survey to ask readers, friends and colleagues to rate the definitions you use while traveling or while preparing for a trip.