How can
the travel industry better support the communities we love around the world? On
World Tourism Day, leaders in tourism and community development will come
together in Washington, DC on Friday, September 27, to discuss best practices
for travel giving, voluntourism, and corporate social impact.
The 2019
World Tourism Day Forum, Impact Tourism: Giving Time, Talent, &
Treasure, is a day-long event focused on how tourism business, travelers,
and organizations are successfully making strategic contributions of time,
talent, and treasure to social and environmental projects in destinations.
Recognizing that “doing good” does not always mean “doing right,” the forum
will also examine the downsides of poorly implemented travel giving programs.
Hosted by
the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and the Organization of American
States, this event will trace the evolution of what was originally referred to
as “travelers’ philanthropy” into “impact tourism,” which is recognized today
as a core component of responsible travel. Designed to generate insights and
highlight innovation, the forum will also discuss the future of this growing
source of development assistance.
Select speakers include:
James Thornton, Chief Executive Officer, Intrepid Travel
Chris Blackwell, Founder, Island Outpost
Meenu Vadera, Founder & Executive Director, Women on Wheels/Azad Foundation
Katherine Redington, Vice President of Social Impact Journeys and Business Development, Elevate Destinations
The event
is taking place on Friday, September 27, 2019, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m at United States Institute
of Peace, 2301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC (reached by the Foggy
Bottom-GWU Metro, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines).
A trek to Everest Base Camp is the adventure of a lifetime. Follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest and most famous trekkers and climbers. Embark on a mind-blowing trek to base camp of the world’s highest mountain.
When you land in Lukla, the gateway to Mount Everest, you’ll be greeted by fresh mountain air, smiling Sherpa faces, and the wonderful absence of sound. For the next 14+ days, you will not encounter even one motorized vehicle! There are no roads to Everest, just gorgeous trails. And this is just the beginning.
You will see countless carved Mani stones and prayer wheels, stunning Buddhist mountain monasteries, breath-taking views of the Himalayas at every turn, and will immerse yourself in the Sherpa culture as you walk through village settlements and over suspension bridges. Each night you will stay in a rustic and charming tea house. Gather around the stove in the main dining room, meet travelers from around the world as you enjoy an authentic and delicious Nepali dinner. Every day of the EBC trek is new discovery for your senses. Hike through Rhododendron forests, over raging rivers, inside gorgeous valleys, and along stunning mountain ridges. You will never regret taking this life-changing adventure!
“At Hope Treks, we believe in doing the right thing and passing on the good karma to you, our client. In addition to funding medical research for the world’s most devastating and terminal childhood disease, we also practice responsible and green tourism through treading very lightly in the mountains and the countryside of Nepal. We make every effort to minimize negative social, economic and environmental impacts on the places we travel. We are committed to paying a living wage to our Nepalese guides and porters who, in the past, have often worked for as little as $10 a day. We ensure that they have proper, safe clothing and gear, as well as insurance.
“Isn’t it time for your ultimate, altruistic adventure?”
Tour Name: Everest Base Camp Trek Tour Dates: Flexible Tour Rate: $2200 USD per person Rate Includes:
Accommodation with breakfast at deluxe hotel in Kathmandu.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day while trekking
Tea House accommodation during the trek.
Experienced, English-speaking guide and porters (1 porter between 2 people). Also included is their food, accommodation, salary, and insurance.
Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS Card).
Company Profile: Hope Treks offers Treks in Nepal, including
Everest Base Camp, and profits go to the Hope for Gus Foundation, which funds
medical research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Four Seasons Resort Nevis sponsors GPS satellite transmitters to support the Sea Turtle Conservancy track the migration patterns of sea turtles that return to Nevis to lay their eggs, and this year, even with the Resort’s ongoing renovation, the research needed to continue.
NEVIS, WEST INDIES – From June to October, the beaches of Nevis come alive with the scurrying of one of nature’s most beloved animals, the sea turtle. Each year, the partnership between Four Seasons Resort Nevis and the Sea Turtle Conservancy aims to educate and create awareness about the protection of these beautiful sea creatures through a joint program that helps researchers study the migration patterns of the endangered species that nest on Nevis’ beaches.
Four Seasons Resort
Nevis sponsors GPS satellite transmitters to support the Sea Turtle Conservancy
in tracking the migration patterns of sea turtles that return to Nevis to lay
their eggs, and this year, even with the Resort’s ongoing renovation, the
research needed to continue.
“This is our 13th
year coming to Nevis and conducting research on these beautiful hawksbill sea
turtles,” says David Godfrey, Executive Director of the Sea Turtle Conservancy.
”For us, this partnership is more than just the research; it’s an opportunity
to be a part of the Nevisian community year after year and see how much they
truly value our efforts and being a part of this very important
initiative.”
Along with the help of
the Nevis Turtle Group and Ignacio Ottley, one of longest
standing sea turtle participants from the Resort, the team was able to
successfully locate and track two new nesting hawksbill sea turtles on the
beaches of Cades Bay, located just 15 minutes from Four Seasons.
As they headed out to
the beach in the late evening, no sooner had they spotted the first turtle
nesting along the beach. The conservation team began taking notes,
measurements, and nesting patterns when another turtle began to make its way up
the banks, just a few steps away. And, just like that “Spongie” and “Patches”
were cleaned up, tagged and sent back to the ocean.
Just one week before the
team came to Nevis, the Nevis Turtle Group was already out looking for turtles
when they found “Sundrop” nesting on Jones Bay Beach. Initially tagged in 2016,
her return to Nevis shows the thriving population on the island and that the
turtles do come back to nest on the same beaches.
Three species of sea turtles nest on the shores of Nevis: the hawksbill, the leatherback, and the green turtle. These majestic creatures journey hundreds of miles each nesting season to return to the same place where they were hatched and, under the glow of the moonlight, lay the next generation of sea turtles that will one day make the same journey. With only 1 in 1,000 to 10,000 baby sea turtles surviving to adulthood, the sea turtle conservation program needs to continue tracking and protecting these animals for future generations. To follow the tagged sea turtles, visit ConserveTurtles.org.
One of the best bike tours on the planet is in our own backyard: the annual Parks & Trails NY Cycle the Erie Canal ride, eight-days, 400-miles and 400 years of history, from Buffalo to Albany, a fully supported biking and camping trip (you can even hire Comfy Campers to set up your tent).
The
ride raises money and awareness for advocacy for new trail development and this
year’s ride will highlight new trails that take the riders off the roadway – this
year, cyclists will ride a new stretch west of Lockport in the town of
Pendleton and a gorgeous new trail between Amsterdam and Pattersonville (so you
no longer bike on the highway). Some 550
riders are expected this year, its 21st
annual Cycle the Erie ride, taking place , July 7-14; Parks & Trails NY is
still accepting registrations ($925/adult, 6-17 $545, 5-and under $280,
ptny.org)
The
organization’s key focus now is to build upon the state’s plan for 750-miles of
off-road recreational trails – the 360-mile long Erie Canalway, plus Empire
State Trail, north-south mixed-use, off-road trail system that will fully
connect New York City to Canada.
The
plans are already in place for the Empire State Trail to be completed by the
end of 2020. In 2019, PTNY launched Trails Across New York Campaign, to build
off the momentum of the Empire State Trail’s planned completion in 2020 and
support ways to turn the statewide trail system into a true network, connecting
local trails with the main spine of the Empire State Trail, including Long
Island, “and cementing New York’s position as the nation’s leader in multi-use
trails.”
Legislation
is currently pending in the NYS Assembly (A. 5035B) (S.4416B has already passed
the NYS Senate) would create a statewide multi-use trails plan. This important
bill would direct the state to come up with a blueprint for future trails
development, helping to turn our local trails across the state into a unified network
of trails with major spines and connecting routes, ensuring all parts of the
state have access to quality outdoor active recreation on trails.
The
Senate version has already passed; the Assembly version is in Ways & Means,
which directs the State Parks department to strategize and prioritize filling
in the trail gaps. Though it was considered possible for the Assembly to pass
its version by the June 19th close of session, if it languishes to
the next session, progress will not be lost. Parks & Trails was urging
people to contact their state legislator to ask them to cosponsor the
legislation and to make sure that the legislation is brought up for a vote
before the legislature adjourns for the year.
“Trails
Across New York envisions a future in which all New Yorkers will be located
only minutes from a trail and ideally will be able to access that trail easily
and safely by walking or bicycling. Throughout the state, trails, bicycle
boulevards, and Complete Streets will be acknowledged as essential and
mainstream elements of community infrastructure, much as utility lines and
sidewalks are thought of today.”
PTNY notes that New York State’s trail-rich and
trail-friendly reputation will attract visitors from across the nation and
abroad to experience the historic communities and varied and beautiful
landscapes accessible through the state’s trail network.
Trails
offer a wide range of benefits, including stimulating local economies, PTNY
notes. The Erie Canalway Trail alone has an estimated annual impact of more
than $250 million, and has created close to 3,500 jobs. New York’s outdoor
recreation economy annually generates $41.8 billion in consumer spending and
supports 313,000 jobs.
See
Cycle the Erie series on goingplacesfarandnear.com:
Report Finds 2018 Spending Supported 329,000 jobs in Hotels, Restaurants, Transportation, Recreation
WASHINGTON – It is so easy just to enjoy our national parks – our national heritage – and not realize that they are also a serious engine of economic activity, indeed a lifeline, for localities and the nation as a whole. As the summer vacation and travel seasons opens, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt announced today that visitor spending in communities near national parks in 2018 resulted in a $40.1 billion benefit to the nation’s economy and supported 329,000 jobs.
According to the annual
National Park Service report, 2018 National Park Visitor Spending
Effects, more than 318 million visitors spent $20.2 billion in communities
within 60 miles of a park in the National Park System. Of the 329,000 jobs
supported by visitor spending, more than 268,000 jobs exist in the park gateway
communities.
“This report emphasizes
the tremendous impact the national parks have on our nation’s economy and
underscores the need to fulfill President Trump’s plan to rebuild park
infrastructure,” said Secretary
Bernhardt. “With 419 sites, and at least one in every state, our
national parks continue to provide visitors, both local and destination, with
innumerous recreational, inspirational, and world-class experiences.”
“National parks with
their iconic natural, cultural and historic landscapes represent the heart and
soul of America,” said National
Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith. “They are also a vital
part of our nation’s economy, especially for park gateway communities where
millions of visitors each year find a place to sleep and eat, hire outfitters
and guides and make use of other local services that help drive a vibrant
tourism and outdoor recreation industry.”
Economic benefits from
visitor spending increased by $2 billion and total output increased by $4.3
billion in comparison to 2017.
As a part of the report,
visitor surveys were conducted at 19 parks with the results indicating that
people spent more time in the parks, stayed longer in gateway communities and
spent more money during their visits.
Visitation varies across
the National Park System, from big parks like Blue Ridge Parkway to Grant Kohrs
Ranch National Historic Site in Montana. Blue Ridge attracted 14.6 million
people who spent more than $1 billion and supported more than 15,900 jobs.
Grant Kohrs Ranch drew more than 26,000 visitors who spent more than $1.5
million in the area and supported 25 local jobs.
Lodging expenses account
for the largest share of visitor spending totaling nearly $6.8 billion in 2018.
Food expenses are the second largest spending area with visitors spending $4
billion in restaurants and bars and another $1.4 billion at grocery and
convenience stores.
The peer-reviewed
economics report was prepared by economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Egan
Cornachione of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park
Service. It includes information by parks and by states on visitor spending,
the number of jobs supported by visitor spending and other statistics.
Report authors also
produce an interactive tool that enables users to explore visitor
spending, jobs, labor income, value added, and output effects by sector for
national, state, and local economies. Users can also view annual, trend data.
For more state-by-state
information about national parks and how the National Park Service is working
with communities, go to http://www.nps.gov/[statename], for example: http://www.nps.gov/virginia.
National Park Visitor
Spending Contributions to the U.S. Economy 2012-18
How fitting that during May, National Biking Month, Rails-to-Trails
Conservancy (RTC) has just unveiled its preferred route for its visionary Great
American Rail-Trail™—or the “Great American”— a 3,700-mile biking trail that
would link Washington DC with Washington State.
The proposal underscores the organization’s long-time
commitment to creating an iconic piece of American infrastructure that connects
more than 125 existing trails and fills 90 trail gaps to create the
cross-continental recreational trail.
“Since the 1980s, RTC has understood the potential of a
trail like the Great American Rail-Trail that could connect the nation. That
vision has been a guidepost for the organization for 30 years. Now, we have the
chance to create from that vision a national treasure that unites millions of
people over thousands of miles of trail,” said Ryan Chao, president of RTC.
“This trail is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide—together—an enduring
gift to the nation that will bring joy for generations to come.”
The preferred route of the nation’s first cross-country
multiuse trail is detailed in a comprehensive report released by RTC today. The
Great American Rail-Trail Route Assessment Report outlines RTC’s recommendation
for the route, developed in close partnership with states and local trail
planners and managers.
“When defining the preferred route of the Great American Rail-Trail, we sought a cross-country route that would provide the highest-quality experience while delivering significant economic and social benefits to the communities it connects,” said Liz Thorstensen, vice president of trail development at RTC. “This route achieves those things and more, in large part thanks to the input, support and leadership of state agencies and local partners who have built the existing trails that will make the Great American Rail-Trail possible, and whose ongoing collaboration is vital to its completion.”
The route assessment was developed over 12 months with input
from RTC’s GIS analysis of more than 34,000 miles of multiuse trails; review of
state and local trail plans; and discussions with hundreds of local trail
partners and state agencies representing the trails along the route. The
preferred route aligns with RTC’s and its partners’ criteria that specify the
Great American be one contiguous route that is initially more than 80 percent,
and ultimately entirely, off street and separated from vehicle traffic;
comprises existing trails to the extent possible; is the most direct route
possible between Washington, D.C., and Washington State; is amenable to the state
and local jurisdictions that will host it; and will serve as a catalyst for
local economic development, including providing services for long-distance
trail travelers.
Traveling through 12 states and the District of Columbia,
RTC and its partners have defined the Great American Rail-Trail as more than
3,700 miles, comprising more than 1,900 miles of existing trails—those trails
already developed that will help carry the route across the country—and more
than 1,700 miles of “trail gaps,”—sections of trail in need of development to
fully connect the Great American into one contiguous route.
As the nation’s first cross-country multiuse trail, the
Great American will connect people of all ages and abilities with America’s
diverse landscapes and communities. Nearly 50 million people living within 50
miles of its route will be able to call this iconic American infrastructure
their own as the trail delivers new access to the outdoors and new
opportunities for physical activity and recreation. Hundreds of communities
along the route will experience new opportunities for business development and
tourism thanks to the Great American Rail-Trail, all while contributing to the
growth of the country’s burgeoning outdoor economy—one of the largest sectors
in the United States.
“We believe the Great American Rail-Trail will be a
transformative project for the nation, as it magnifies on a grand scale the
benefits that trails have delivered to communities for decades,” said Chao.
“Whether bridging gaps within and between communities, creating safe walking
and biking access to jobs, transit, shopping and green space; or serving as
recreation for cyclists, runners and casual daily explorers, this will be
America’s trail.”
While completion of the Great American Rail-Trail is a
significant undertaking and several decades away, 52% of the path is already
complete and available for public use, with plans for RTC to work in
partnership with states and local jurisdictions and organizations to bring new
segments online year after year.
RTC and its partners view the route assessment as a
blueprint for the trail’s development that is based in the reality of existing
plans and priorities. To spur trail completion, RTC has identified initial
catalyst initiatives—projects or challenges that would most benefit from RTC’s
national breadth of resources. Through these initiatives, RTC will directly
support local and state partners, investing time, expertise and organizational
resources in specific projects that are critical to catalyzing the completion
of the Great American Rail-Trail. RTC is also enlisting the support of trail
lovers across the country to demonstrate national enthusiasm for the Great
American’s development.
Setting a goal to reach 1 million pledges in support of the cross-country trail, RTC is asking the public to pledge at greatamericanrailtrail.org.
“We know that it will take a significant investment of time,
resources and energy to complete the Great American Rail-Trail—but it will be
worth it. It will take the help of trail lovers and leaders to bring this
vision to life,” said Kevin Mills, RTC’s vice president of policy. “Federal,
state, local and private investment will all be needed to complete this
project. To support the ongoing advocacy necessary to secure critical public
resources, we hope everyone will be inspired to proudly pledge to show the
widespread desire that exists for this trail.”
The Great American Rail-Trail is a signature project of RTC
and the most ambitious in its portfolio of TrailNation™ projects—the
organization’s initiative to encourage the rapid replication of regional trail
networks across the country. The Great American was first envisioned at RTC in
the late 1980s, and for decades has been an underpinning of the organization’s
strategy to create a nationwide network of public trails.
Separately, New York State, which already offers a 353-mile
long Erie Canalway from Buffalo to Albany, is in the process of filling the
gaps for a bikeway that will extend the entire north-south expanse, from New
York City to the Canadian border.
To learn more about the Great American Rail-Trail and RTC and to view the preferred route, visit greatamericanrailtrail.org and follow @greatamericanrailtrail on Facebook and Instagram.
It will take public and private support to complete the
Great American Rail-Trail. To learn more about how you can support the project
and RTC’s national leadership to plan, organize and advocate for the trail,
contact Alisa Borland, vice president of development at RTC, at
[email protected] or 202.974.5126.
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is the nation’s largest trails organization—with a grassroots community more than 1 million strong— dedicated to connecting people and communities by creating a nationwide network of public trails, many from former rail lines. Connect with RTC at railstotrails.org and @railstotrails on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
African Travel, Inc., a leader in handcrafted safari vacations to Africa, is featuring eight spectacular new itineraries, several enhanced journeys that feature new hotels, experiences and activities, and one brand-new destination for 2019.
GLENDALE, Calif.– African Travel, Inc., a leader in handcrafted safari vacations to Africa, is featuring eight spectacular new itineraries, several enhanced journeys that feature new hotels, experiences and activities, and one brand-new destination for 2019. Whether you want to see rare mountain gorillas and other wildlife, experience adrenaline adventures, immerse yourself in African culture, or taste local delicacies the 2019 brochure’s 31 journeys will lead you to the experience to match your tastes and desires.
“Our tailor-made itineraries are as unique as each traveler,” said Sherwin Banda, president of African Travel, Inc. “Our fantastic new brochure is truly a one-stop shop for every type of African adventure you’ve ever dreamed of – and even some you didn’t know existed. We make it easy to find the right Africa for your taste and style.”
African Travel’s new and updated trip offerings for 2019 include:
‘Southern Explorer,’ its most popular safari adventure, has been revamped and enhanced for 2019! This air-inclusive journey combines spectacular Cape Town and Kruger National Park with the majesty of Victoria Falls, one of the world’s Seven Natural Wonders. Guests are treated to special new experiences such as private guided sightseeing in Cape Town and Victoria Falls, a dinner cruise on the Zambezi River, and a scenic helicopter flight over the falls. Travelers see the best of southern Africa’s vibrant culture, scenic beauty and natural wonders on this incredible journey. 12 days, from $10,795 pp, airfare included.
‘South Africa’s Natural Wonders’ offers the perfect blend of city, scenery, nature and wildlife. This new 10-day itinerary starts with private sightseeing in Cape Town and on the scenic Cape Peninsula, then takes guests to nearby Grootbos Private Nature Reserve for land-based outdoor activities and marine wildlife viewing. The trip’s final destination is the malaria-free Shamwari Private Game Reserve, the country’s largest privately-owned game reserve, where guests go on multiple Big Five game drives and learn about the reserve’s conservation programs. Cap off your stay with a lively dinner at Shamwari’s traditional boma. 12 days, from $9,495 pp.
The enhanced ‘Best of Botswana with Victoria Falls’ itinerary takes guests on a journey of discovery through Botswana’s vast, pristine wilderness, and ends with a stay at Zimbabwe’s legendary Victoria Falls. Guests discover the Okavango Delta’s maze of lagoons on a scenic helicopter flight, then explore its secret channels by traditional mokoro. Later they view the open grasslands and seasonal floodplains of the Moremi Game Reserve on 4×4 safari drives. In Victoria Falls guests explore the tropical rainforests, and take a sunset dinner cruise on the mighty Zambezi river. 11 days, from $9,395 pp, airfare included.
Zimbabwe has re-emerged as a top contender for tourism in the past year, with much to offer the safari enthusiast. The enhanced ‘Beyond the Rainbow’ itinerary includes several of the country’s most popular highlights, including the thundering Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park and Mana Pools National Park. Walking tours, game drives, canoeing and wildlife viewing from hides let guests experience exceptional wildlife, including huge herds of elephants and pods of bobbing hippos. Additionally, guests will enjoy lunch perched above the Batoka Gorge, where they can marvel at the thunderous sound of the falls and feel the mist while they dine. Days are capped off with unmatched stargazing and lively storytelling around the campfire at luxurious tented camps. 12 days, from $11,295 pp, airfare included.
The enhanced ‘Essence of Southern Africa’ itinerary now starts with a stay at the elegant Ellerman House, one of the hottest addresses in Cape Town. Set against the backdrop of Lion’s Head, Ellerman features terraced indigenous gardens, magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean, and an incomparable South African art collection. The trip continues to Botswana, where guests enjoy a scenic helicopter flight over the Okavango Delta, and see a staggering amount of wildlife at Selinda Reserve. Also new on the itinerary this year is a stay at the brand new Stanley & Livingstone Boutique hotel in Victoria Falls, where guests take a private guided tour of the falls, enjoy a sunset cruise on the luxurious 28-seat Zambezi Royal, and have a memorable dinner experience on the vintage Bushtracks Express train.11 days, from $15,995 pp.
The wildlife-focused ‘Delta, Rivers, and Falls’ visits both Botswana and Zambia, African Travel’s newest destination. Guests discover the beauty of the Zambezi River, the magnificent sunsets on the Chobe River, and the intricacies of the Okavango Delta, then end their journey with a magnificent safari at the famous Chief’s Island. Day and night game drives, river cruises, walking safaris and mokoro rides are all included as part of the experience. This journey features luxurious tented accommodation throughout, including tree houses lining the banks of the Zambezi River, a cottage with both indoor and outdoor showers, a classic tented camp, and elegant bush pavilions with private plunge pools. 9 days, from $6,995 pp.
‘Ultimate Tanzania and Rwanda’ has all the ingredients of a safari masterpiece: fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities on Tanzania’s Serengeti plains and in the private Grumeti Reserve, two gorilla treks in Rwanda, visits to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and even a ride above the plains in a hot air balloon! This bucket list journey also offers cultural and conservation experiences : guests visit a local food market in Kigali and cook with a chef, and help with reforestation activities in the Sabinyo Mountains. 13 days, from $22,475 pp.
The new ‘Deserts and Dunes of Namibia’ flying safari visits the wildlife sanctuary of Etosha, the iconic red dunes of Sossusvlei, and the ruggedly beautiful Skeleton Coast. It starts in the totally captivating Etosha Private Reserve, where the savanna stretches as far as the eye can see, and guests will rarely encounter another visitor. Early morning and late afternoon game drives reveal lions, giraffes, ostriches and hyenas, as well as the elusive black and white rhino. Next they’ll explore the shipwreck-strewn Skeleton Coast and see a seal colony, then stay overnight in the stylish new Shipwreck Lodge, which is literally built in the shape of a ship. Finally, they’ll marvel at the giant, fiery red dunes of Sossusvlei, and see the ancient fossilized acacia trees at Deadvlei salt pan. 10 days, from $12,695 pp.
‘Cape to Cairo’ is a new itinerary for luxury travelers who want to do it ALL in one trip, from the southern tip of Africa to the top of the continent. This comprehensive 16-day adventure includes the cosmopolitan sights of Cape Town, the grandeur of Victoria Falls and the mighty Zambezi River, endless game viewing opportunities in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, and the legendary pyramids of ancient Egypt. The itinerary is designed so that guests stay at each destination for three or four nights, allowing time to unpack and really soak up the highlights. Along the way guests also enjoy unique experiences like blending their own wine in the Cape, eating breakfast with giraffes in Nairobi, going hot air ballooning in the Maasai Mara, and taking a private tour of Cairo with an Egyptologist. 16 days, from $13,995 pp.
For more information or to book a 2019 safari trip, contact your travel professional, call African Travel, Inc. at (800) 727-7207, or visit www.africantravelinc.com.
African Travel is part of The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands. Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation ‘s (TTC) family of brands, The TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit that works to help ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for generations to come. To date, TreadRight has supported some 50 sustainable tourism projects worldwide. The Foundation’s guiding principle is to encourage sustainable tourism development through conservation, leadership and support for communities. Foundation priorities are set by the Steering Committee, which includes sustainability leaders Céline Cousteau and Costas Christ. Past project partners include WWF, Conservation International, WildAid, The Travel Foundation and The National Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include supporting various women’s social enterprises through the Artisan Alliance, the recently announced Wildlife Conservation Society’s Big Cat fund, WE.org and inspiring nature advocates like Terri Irwin. To learn more about past and current work at TreadRight, please visit us at TreadRight.org.
Tour operators welcomed the US State Department’s reclassification of its Cuba’s travel advisory to a Level 2.
The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory rating for Cuba from “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” to “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.” The move, which took place in August, was welcomed by a coalition of U.S. tour operators and organizations that have seen educational exchanges between the U.S. and Cuba deeply hurt by the State Department’s level 3 classification. However, other measures are still in place, including a warning in the travel advisory to “avoid” the popular Hotel Nacional and Hotel Capri. The updated rating came as part of the Department’s mandatory six-month review of the Cuba travel advisory, which was last evaluated on March 2, 2018.
“We are pleased that the State Department has made this common-sense decision,” said Martha Honey, Executive Director of the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), which has coordinated the coalition’s advocacy work. “Cuba is one of the safest countries in the world, and people-to-people exchanges, which began to flourish under the Obama administration, ground almost to a halt when the travel restrictions were imposed last year.”
Ahead of the State Department’s review, the coalition sent a letter to the State Department advocating for this change to Cuba’s travel advisory. The group argued that the “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” rating was unwarranted given the realities of travel to Cuba and explained the travel advisory’s far-reaching negative impacts for the Cuban people as well as for U.S. travelers and travel businesses. For the first half of 2018, U.S. travel to Cuba – not including travel by Cuban Americans – declined by 23.6% compared to the same period in 2018. In a survey conducted by CREST in early 2018, 84% of U.S. tour operators cited the State Department’s travel advisory as the main reason for this drop in U.S. travel to Cuba.
“As travel professionals, we have seen firsthand the benefits of people-to-people travel to Cuba, which puts revenue directly into the hands of Cuban households while providing U.S. travelers with outstanding cultural and educational experiences…We are concerned about how the decline in U.S. travel to Cuba is hurting Cuban entrepreneurs and curtailing invaluable exchanges between American travelers and the Cuban people,” the coalition said in their letter to the State Department.
Cuba’s travel advisory rating was designated at “Level 3: Reconsider Travel” after U.S. embassy personnel in Havana were stricken with unexplained health ailments. However, as the coalition’s letter explains, there have been no confirmed cases of similar ailments among visitors to Cuba.
The update to the Cuba travel advisory rating is a critical step forward for the Cuban people and recognizes the importance of educational and people-to-people travel. Kate Simpson, President of Academic Travel Abroad in Washington, DC notes, “This move on the part of the State Department, placing Cuba in the same category as most of Europe, should reassure American citizens that it is legal and safe to travel to this unique and compelling destination.”
The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) is a policy-oriented research organization dedicated to increasing the positive global impact of responsible tourism. CREST assists governments, policy makers, tourism businesses, nonprofit organizations, and international agencies with finding solutions to critical issues confronting tourism, the world’s largest service industry (responsibletravel.org).
Wilderness Voyageurs Cuba Cycling Tours
Meanwhile, Wilderness Voyageurs has announced new tour dates for its popular Cuba Clasico Bike Tour, a fully supported and legally licensed tour that starts and finishes in Havana. Along the way, the tour visits 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Havana Vieja, Trinidad and Zapata National Park); Old Town Havana; Museo de Ernesto Hemingway; and sea kayaking on the coast. The dates are December 1, 2018 and March 30, 2019.
The company also is offering Quintessential West Cuba Bike Tour, starting March 23, 2019.
andBeyond travelers on the “Travel With a Purpose in Tanzania” program visit Ololosokwan Clinic, primary school, and Meirowa School, and can join a group of school children on a game drive and conservation lesson.
andBeyond, a leading luxury experiential travel company, has launched philanthropic-focused itineraries in Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa to give guests a first-hand look at its core ethos of caring for the land, wildlife, and people. The activities range from adopting an elephant at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Kenya to participating in local school conservation lessons in Tanzania to visiting the Grootbos Green Futures College in Cape Town, an organization that provides educational training to unemployed young adults in the city.
Tanzania: Travelers on andBeyond’s 9-day Travel with Purpose in Tanzania tour start the adventure off in Arusha before heading to andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge to explore the Mayoka and Moya communities by bike, and the new science labs at Kilimamoja School, funded by the Africa Foundation. The excursion continues to andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, perched above the edge of Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater, before ending at andBeyond Klein’s Camp on the Serengeti. Here, travelers will visit Ololosokwan Clinic, primary school, and Meirowa School, and can join a group of school children on a game drive and conservation lesson.
Kenya: andBeyond’s new Travel with Purpose in Kenya 12-day itinerary weaves travelers through the Kuku Group Ranch at the foot of the Chyulu Hills in Nairobi, Lewa Downs Conservancy in Laikipia, and the Masai Mara to learn about and engage in various conservation projects. Highlights include a private visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi to adopt an elephant, feeding giraffes at the Giraffe Centre, and a Maasai community visit led by the African Foundation Program Manager, in which travelers can interact with a Maasai family and visit a traditional boma.
South Africa: andBeyond’s Travel with Purpose in South Africa journey is a 10-day excursion spanning from andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve to Cape Town to the Cape Whale Coast. At andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, travelers take an excursion with Africa Foundation to visit projects in the Mduku and Mngobokazi communities, and assist in an exclusive rhino notching experience. Travelers then head to Cape Town for a half-day tour of Uthando, a non-profit that supports various community projects (day care, urban agriculture, environmental, and youth development programs), followed by a half-day tour of the city to explore Table Mountain, Greenmarket Square, and Company Gardens. The tour continues on to the Cape Whale Coast (known for its prime whale watching location), where travelers will have the option to explore the Grootbos’s Green Futures College or the Siyakhula Organic Farm, visit the African Seabird and Penguin Sanctuary, and of course enjoy a whale watching excursion.
In addition to these opportunities for travelers to engage in voluntourism, andBeyond offers Small Group Journeys affording the opportunity to explore Africa, Asia’s and South America’s extraordinary landscapes in the company of an intimate group of like-minded safari enthusiasts, on a set itinerary. The newest is Land Rover Expeditions around Patagonia Lakes, and another around Chile/Argentina Wine & Country. Snow Leopard Expeditions (India) is on many travelers’ bucket lists and Botswana Mobile Camping Expeditions is THE way to see Botswana for the adventurous.
Also, andBeyond owns and operates lodges and camps in Africa. New lodges opening in 2018 include Bateleur Camp in Kenya, Tengile River Lodge in South Africa, Phinda Homestead in South Africa, Phinda Vlei also in South Africa.
Guests travelling to &Beyond lodges in Africa can take advantage of “Fly Me” offers where the entire package price, including flights, is known; others who build an itinerary lodge by lodge, can benefit from long stay discounts. And for couples who have recently celebrated their nuptials, there is a Honeymoon Offer where a partner only pays 50%.
Asia travelers also can take advantage of long stay and “Fly Me” offers on some Indian itineraries, showcasing the best of the region at great deals.
Established in 1991, andBeyond is one of the world’s leading luxury experiential travel companies, designing personalized high-end tours in 15 countries in Africa, five in Asia, and four in South America. andBeyond also owns and operate 29 extraordinary lodges and camps in Africa’s iconic safari and island destinations. In addition, andBeyond operates small group, set-departure expeditions throughout Africa and Asia. This enables us to positively impact more than 9 million acres of wildlife land and 2,000 kilometres of coastline.
During Wild Women Expeditions’ Elephants, Treks and Temples tour of Northern Thailand participants get to help bathe, feed and walk elephants at both an elephant rescue center and in a Karen tribal village in the jungle.
CORNER BROOK, NL, CANADA– Elephants are the stars in a new-for-2018 multi-sport Thailand adventure for women-only hosted by Wild Women Expeditions.
Fall 2018 departures of Elephants, Treks and Temples tour of Northern Thailand (http://wildwomenexpeditions.com/trips/thailand-elephants/) will immerse guests for 11 days in the culture and landscape of northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai region on bicycles, and while trekking and coursing down rivers on bamboo rafts. Stops enroute include helping to bathe, feed and walk elephants at both and an elephant rescue center and in a Karen tribal village in the jungle.
“Ethical, sustainable tourism is the Asian elephant’s best hope to survive. In the spirit of the #BeKindToElephants movement, we want to respect and protect these majestic animals and so won’t be riding elephants on any Wild Women tours,” says Jennifer Haddow, Owner/Director of Wild Women Expeditions. “This practice often relies on wild elephants being brutally tamed before they can be ridden and we are creating tourism opportunities with elephants that do not cause harm.”
The focus on elephants is part of a Wild Women Expeditions’ commitment to change the perception of elephants as beasts of burden for tourists. The company is supporting Chai Lai Sisters, a community-based tourism project to convert an abusive elephant riding camp into a sanctuary or rescue center for elephants that is run by the Karen tribal community near Chiang Mai. This company also benefits a second organization, Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation, supporting the work of the work of the first elephant hospital in Thailand to rehabilitate elephants injured by overwork and neglect in tourist camps.
Wild Women Expeditions’ Elephants, Treks and Temples Tour of Chiang Mai, Thailand, provides opportunity to help care for elephants.
Wild Women Expeditions has also thrown its financial support behind Chai Lai Orchid and a Go Fund Me Campaign to empower local women and rescue elephants. Donations are needed to save 13 Asian elephants from abusive conditions and to support a human-trafficking prevention program. For more details and to contribute see: https://www.gofundme.com/ChaiLai.
Elephants in this region are big business. The animals are enslaved to the tourist trade 365 days a year as cheap transportation carrying the weight of a heavy metal chair plus the weight of humans. Elephants are also in chains to logging interests, day after day dragging felled trees from the jungle. In the rescue center caretakers from a Karen hill tribe assure that the animals are well treated and have access to water for bathing. See: https://www.chailaiorchid.com/elephant-sanctuary/.
In Chiang Mai is the world’s first elephant hospital that is supported by a non-profit organization called Friends of the Asian Elephant. Here treatments cover the spectrum of what distressed elephants may require, from illnesses requiring antibiotics to injuries mandating surgeries and future prosthesis, to maternal and infant care. See: http://www.friendsoftheasianelephant.org/en/.
Thailand’s Chiang Mai is the gateway to access the country’s north. The Wild Women Adventure Tour will visit several tribal communities to get a view of the rural landscape through activities including cycling, rafting and trekking.
Rice paddies, orchards, bamboo and fern groves surround women on bicycles in Sri Lanna National Park. To cross a reservoir they board a longtail boat bound for lunch at a floating bamboo raft house. Atop Thailand’s second highest mountain they gaze across a landscape to neighboring Myanmar; they hike along a jungle trail and immerse themselves in the culture of a hill tribe whose business is maintaining tea plantations. The group will stay for two nights at Phu Chaisai, at an award-winning eco-resort crafted by bamboo in the jungle near Chiang Rai. One 3.5-hour trek leads to a Karen village hill tribe where elephants await new hands to feed and bathe them. Another day is spent at an elephant sanctuary near Chiang Mai. Omnipresent throughout this journey are temples – or wats – and the role that rivers continue to play in shaping Thailand’s trade and agriculture.
The per person double rate is $2,295 USD inclusive of 10 nights accommodation (including a home stay), most meals, services of an English-speaking certified female guide and assistant guides, drinking water and snacks, activity-related equipment, travel, including airport transfers, in private air-conditioned vans, sightseeing tickets and zone entrance fees, flight confirmations and luggage transfers.
A quarter century ago Wild Women Expeditions pioneered today’s steam-charged movement encouraging women to travel in small women-only groups. “Wild Women Expeditions gives women the opportunity to empower themselves amongst other women, connect with the natural world and make a positive impact in the communities we explore,” says Haddow.
