With a number of sustainability interventions onsite such as energy efficiency, solar power and waste management, Mdumbi has a unique ownership model, with the local employees, the amaxhosa community association, and TransCape (Mdumbi’s affiliated NPO) all holding shares in the business. Nearly a fifth of Botswana's surface area is set aside as wildlife reserves for its astonishing biodiversity and animal density, including the world's largest elephant population, big cats, and a wildebeest migration. Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world and can provide an essential economic boost for countries pitching themselves as holiday destinations. 1196 Gland, SUMAS Learning Center: These are but a few of many varying examples of models for sustainable tourism development. Interested in doing your bit for sustainable tourism? https://www.mdumbi.co.za/about_us Mdumbi’s NPO, TransCape, aims “to provide access to the resources, support, and knowledge necessary for communities to initiate the process of change towards a better quality of life.” In 2017, the Backpacker was also awarded a silver prize by the World Responsible Tourism Awards for best in poverty reduction. Urban ski slopes typically take the form of emissions-emitting indoor centers. Connecting the center of surf town Byron Bay to a vibrant arts estate, the world’s first solar-powered train made its maiden journey on a scenic 3km stretch of disused rail line in 2017. Be sure to check out the changing rooms, which were made from 12,000 recycled plastic bottles. This has been achieved by enforcing strict entry requirements and a daily visitor tariff. Sustainable tourism has been a success in Gozo because of several factors, such as the cultures of the local people. Tourism, however, has historically had devastating effects on the environment, people and their cultural identities. Tourists are offered the opportunity to “join a team of local conservationists and experts as part of a volunteer group working 5 days a week in the rainforests of Belize.” Volunteers are strictly vetted and provided with a volunteer guide before departing, as well as caller support in order to ensure that the voluntourism is done ethically and respectfully to locals, animals and the environment. It is also a leader in sustainable tourism. The brochure has been sent to the email address provided. http://sdt.unwto.org/content/faq-climate-change-and-tourism I have visited a few and I have lots more on my bucket list. Table Mountain Cableway, South Africa , a backpackers on the Wild Coast of South Africa, aims to promote “community involvement and sustainable eco-tourism”. Footsteps Ecolodge, The Gambia . Responsible Travel, a responsible tourism operator based in the UK, advocates for more responsible travel decisions through online content and organising sustainable and ethical holiday packages. I want emails from Lonely Planet with travel and product information, promotions, advertisements, third-party offers, and surveys. See you there. Short Courses, Apply Now Why SUMAS “UnRead more, INTERVIEW WITH DR. IVANA MODENA (IN ITALIAN) “SUMAS: a scuola di business sostenibile” – interview (in Italian) released by Dr. Ivana Modena, Academic Director and President at SUMAS. Some of their guidelines are illustrated in their infographic below. Sustainable tourism has been a success in Gozo because of several factors, such as the cultures of the local people. One such package offers individuals the opportunity to volunteer at a conservation organisation in Belize. It’s also home to the UK’s longest and fastest zipline, and a play tower for kids designed to introduce little ones to the concept of pollination. The Swiss Foundation for Solidarity in Tourism (SST) is a non-profit foundation that grew out of one of the leading tour operators in Switzerland. Ouarzazate – Morocco. Following the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, German authorities decided not to put its new multi-billion-euro nuclear reactor near the Dutch border into operation. The local is highly valued and promoted as an attraction to the outside world. The hilltop atrium building harnesses solar and geothermal energy, and guests can tour the on-site greenhouses and vegetable gardens that supply the inventive menus. Innovative sustainable tourism attractions around the world 1. Some of their guidelines are illustrated in their infographic below. In order for tourism to continue and for us to live within our planetary bounds and respect all people, the only option is for the world to move away from unconscious, mass tourism and learn from the existing examples of thriving sustainable tourism models.