share your innovations for sustainable living
Travel Guide Publishers and Sustainable Tourism
I believe travel guide publishers, as a link between tourists, tour operators and destinations can play pivotal role by influencing the choices these stakholders make. I also believe that their role should not be just one of damage prevention, limitation or offsetting. They should be proactive, so that the benefits of tourism can be seen as part of development strategies, especially in developing nations.
I am a publisher of travel guides and my objective is to attract responsible independent travellers to Brazil. I hope to be an example of innovation in the travel industry by developing a new business model for travel guides, which I believe are currently operating according to an outdated business model.
I am developing a network of destination websites in association with local representatives, coordinators and site correspondents. We will produce content rich guides, with many local insights, that are constantly updated. They will be published in many formats, using new technologies. More importantly, they will include details of inspirational themed itineraries, that have been developed in association with local tour operators according to strict guidelines and check lists, based on sustainable tourism principles and our brand credentials. In this way I think we can bring about positive changes.
Just in the research stages of guides, I am able to influence decisions. I am working with a tour operator to develop tours based on our guidelines, I am meeting hotel owners, tourism secretaries for local governments, guides and other stakeholders, and I am engaging them in conversations that are influencing their decisions.
Yesterday, in the most exciting development yet, I was invited by the tourism secretary of a region to spend a week working with them. I will get excellent content for my guides and have the opportunity to brainstorm sustainable tourism measures that they may incporporate in their destination management strategy. I plan to make this a case study, and hope to use it in future as a way to research and develop my guides.
I would like to hear the views of people who may have an interest and or relevant experience to share. And, I hope this discussion can be a resource for the development of best practice guidelines.
Paul Barnett
Founder, Pearl Travel Guides
http://pearltravelguides.com
pbarnett@pearltravelguides.com
I am a publisher of travel guides and my objective is to attract responsible independent travellers to Brazil. I hope to be an example of innovation in the travel industry by developing a new business model for travel guides, which I believe are currently operating according to an outdated business model.
I am developing a network of destination websites in association with local representatives, coordinators and site correspondents. We will produce content rich guides, with many local insights, that are constantly updated. They will be published in many formats, using new technologies. More importantly, they will include details of inspirational themed itineraries, that have been developed in association with local tour operators according to strict guidelines and check lists, based on sustainable tourism principles and our brand credentials. In this way I think we can bring about positive changes.
Just in the research stages of guides, I am able to influence decisions. I am working with a tour operator to develop tours based on our guidelines, I am meeting hotel owners, tourism secretaries for local governments, guides and other stakeholders, and I am engaging them in conversations that are influencing their decisions.
Yesterday, in the most exciting development yet, I was invited by the tourism secretary of a region to spend a week working with them. I will get excellent content for my guides and have the opportunity to brainstorm sustainable tourism measures that they may incporporate in their destination management strategy. I plan to make this a case study, and hope to use it in future as a way to research and develop my guides.
I would like to hear the views of people who may have an interest and or relevant experience to share. And, I hope this discussion can be a resource for the development of best practice guidelines.
Paul Barnett
Founder, Pearl Travel Guides
http://pearltravelguides.com
pbarnett@pearltravelguides.com
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Gopinath Parayil on -
Paul, Pro-active travel writers can bring in positive changes to destinations and influence the way travellers chose destinations to travel. Highlighting positive initiatives and warning about irresponsible practices connects the traveller with local reality.
Nibha Namboodiri along with some of her friends who were ardent Elephant lovers distributed some leaflets to tourists who came to see the famous "Gajamela" (elephant festival consisting of hundreds of decorated tuskers) of Thrissur in Kerala, about the horrible working conditions of the displayed elephants and requested them to check for the features they have explained in simple words of an over-worked, unhealthy elephant. Traveller's picked up this campaign and the event organised in support with the Government and Tourism department was withdrawn from the year 2000 onwards".
This is just an instance of how a rebellious local joined hands with rebellious travellers to make a change to the destination. Imagine how much of a contribution an editor or a travel writer could make if the the content of the guidebook is highlighting positive travel experiences? This could influence policy makers, will enable travel industry to be more responsible, and at the same time provide an enjoyable experience for the traveller.
Green Code from Lonely Planet to a small extend and Rough Guides new initiative on" 500 New ways to see the world" to a larger extend is exploring new ways to feature a destination. However the work I believe will be more challenging when you are focusing down on to a destination ( a country / a region etc) as the intensity of experiences to share as a writer is far more deeper and vivid.
Best, G -
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