Rough Notes from Expo Aventura
by Ron Mader

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Editor's Note: These are "rough notes" compiled during the conference. They will be edited somewhat in the next few weeks, but the original point was to provide timely information from the expo.

Day One | Day Two | Day Three

This is the first "trade event" for Planeta.com. I am being assisted by good friend and Planeta.com contributor Elizabeth Malek-Zadeh, who authored one of the more popular articles, Marketing Ecotourism to Travel Agents." I've created an area "para platicar" (to talk) and instead of having a table with brochures, I've set up 5 chairs, with a beautiful Oaxacan rug in the middle. It works!

Yesterday, I had the most amazing conversations with two dozen people. While I am grateful for email, human contact is so much more rewarding! Fernando Ochoa updated me on tourism to Laguna Miramar, Chiapas. Eddie Dry, a professor from New Mexico and currently teaching a course in Guanajuato, brought 15 enthusiastic students. Pablo Ruiz is developing multi-day biking trips to the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca. Ana Diaz, organizer of Expotur in Monterrey told me about her recent event. The developers of a new website about Calakmul gave me a brochure and explained how important internet is in promoting alternative tourism in Mexico.

"There's no question that internet is the best means we've had of promoting ecotourism in Laguna Miramar," said Fernando Ochoa. "I have the statistics that show how many direct sales we've made, thanks to Planeta.com and Mexico Online."

Kenneth Johnson of Cancun's Ecocolors had made a similar presentation to SECTUR officials earlier this week. "I told them that the web -- particularly Planeta.com -- offers the best means of promoting and explaining what ecotourism's all about in Mexico," he said.

Complementing the trade exhibit are a series of serious hour-long conferences that begin today. My presentation -- on internet/ecotourism connections -- takes place at 1pm. Expo Aventura continues through Saturday.

Among the people who visited the Planeta.com stand yesterday were:

Fernando Ochoa
Laguna Miramar

Aventura Vertical
Ignacio Zaragoza 450
Col. La Nopalera, Tlahuac
13220 Mexico, DF MEXICO
Phone: (5) 863-3363
Contacts: Dalilia Calvario and Carlos Gonzales
- Bi-monthly magazine devoted to mountain sports and training. Individual issues cost 15 pesos.

Ana Diaz
- organizer of Monterrey's Ecotur '99
Integracion y Desarrollo Organizacional

New promotion of Calakmul

Rios y Rapidos de Mexico

Patricia Ramirez Sernas
Museos Comunitarios de Oaxaca<

Pablo Ruiz Lavalle
Expediciones Sierra Norte de Oaxaca
Phone: (951) 395-18 and 514-19

Ivan Palaez
Huatulco

Ruben Carvajal
Eco-Rutas Escolares
Blvd. San Felipe H 181-7
Puebla, Puebla
(22) 49-16-21

Hotelito Desconocido
Jalisco
http://www.hotelito.com

Biodiversidad Mexicana
Saltillo, Coahuila
(84) 14-9690

Mr. Moro Hotel and RV Resort
Las Glorias, Sinaloa
http://www.debate.com.mx/cangrejo

Author and journalist Ron Mader lives in Mexico and hosts the award-winning Planeta.com website -- www.planeta.com -- and is the author of the Mexico: Adventures in Nature guidebook and the Exploring Ecotourism resource guide. Ron leads workshops throughout the Americas.

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