Green Travel Tips

The latest issue of Conde Nast Traveler has an excellent article on green travel by G. Jeffrey MacDonald. Jeffrey says, “Your travels can destroy habitats and accelerate global warming. They can also help heal the planet. This handbook shows you how simple decisions can make all the difference”. Go ahead have a look at the article Here

More Reading Materials

I came across this good publication on ecolodges published by Lao National Tourism Administration and Asian Development Bank. Even though this manual is for Laos the contents have relevance to all who have interests in ecolodges. It made fascinating reading. The contents include selection and preparation of site, use of local building material, Bungalows and multi room lodges, restaurants and common areas, construction advice, interior decoration, landscaping and gardening, safety cleanliness and hygiene, staffing issues, marketing and promotion, some examples of bad design and construction and sample architectural drawing. Go ahead have a look at it.
http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:3j76D2koewgJ:www.ecotourismlaos.com/directory/publications/designing_and_operating_an_ecolodge_in_the_lao_pdr_english.pdf+ecolodges+designs&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=in

More Resources

As I was scouting the net I came across this article Ecolodge & Green Building Tips by Karen Lewis. Karen shares know-how on building an ecolodge and tips on green building practices and sustainable products.I found it very interesting. Gives you lot of insights. Have a look at it http://www.ecotourism.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/eco_template.aspx?articleid=49&zoneid=7

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

Ranweli Holiday Village Sri Lanka

Ranweli 18 Km away from Colombo International Airport is located in a coastal wetland estuary amidst mangroves. An area rich in bird life it encompasses an area of 9Ha. A paddle ferry across a lagoon gets you to Ranweli. Ranweli Holiday Village was a runners up in the Environmental Experience Category of the British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2003. It also has the distinction of being selected by the World Tourism Organisation as one of the top 55 'Good Practices' Enterprises in Ecotourism. Budget Travel rated it among the world's 10 best ecolodges. Good practices like using treated waste in the gardens, promoting environmental and cultural education, supporting Conservation,ensuring benefis to the local Community are followed here. Check out this place if you are going to Sri Lanka.

Merry Christmas

Wish You A Merry Christmas

New wave ecolodges

While surfing I came across this article “New wave ecolodges” in timesonline. Gives you an idea about trends in UK. Makes interesting reading.Have a look at it.

Follow this link

http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/new_homes/article1352664.ece

La Ruta Moskitia, Honduras – Winner of best in park or protected area award of, Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2007

La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance (LARUMO Alliance).Honduras, which won Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2007, is 100% community-owned and operated. All financial benefits go directly to local communities.Six indigenous communities have developed ecotourism products and services within the Rio Plátano Biosphere Reserve. This earns them good money and has lessend dependence on hunting, fishing, slash & burn agriculture and cattle grazing which were taking heavy toll of biodiversity of the area. La Ruta Moskitia has received support from the United Nations Development Program’s Small Grants Program in Honduras and Rare (http://www.rareconservation.org/), an international conservation organization whose mission is to protect wild lands of globally significant biodiversity by enabling local people to benefit from their protection. Rio Plátano Biosphere Reserve encompasses over 525,000 hectares and was the first World Heritage Site to be designated as such in Central America. The Reserve encompasses coastal wetlands, pine savannas, tropical forests, and is home to rare species, like Jaguars, and Manatees as well as over 300 bird species, including Parrots, Toucans, and the elusive Harpy Eagle. An estimated 2,000 vascular plants can be found in the reserve.200 amphibian and reptiles species have been recirded. The beaches of the Reserve are critical nesting grounds for four species of endangered sea turtles.

For more details log on to http://larutamoskitia.com/about.html

How Ecolodges Work

Regular readers have requested me to post details of good writeups I come across on the net. I was reading this article “How Ecolodges Work” in How Stuff Works and find it interesting and useful. If you are new to ecolodges this article gives you enough fodder. Gives you an account of ecolodge principles,ecolodge experience,finding an ecolodge and ecotourism. Have a look at the following link

http://travel.howstuffworks.com/ecolodge.htm/printable

Responsible Tourism Awards 2007

My friend James Zechariah was telling me that even though the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2007 was announced on 14^th November 2007 not many people are aware of the winners in various category. He feels that it would be useful to put the names on this blog. As per his suggestion I am giving below the list of winners. Hope it will be useful to all of you

Best Tour Operator: sponsored by The Adventure Company

Gecko's Adventures, Australia

Best Small Hotel/Accommodation: sponsored by Tourism Queensland

Finca Esperanza Verde Ecolodge, Nicaragua

Best Large Hotel/Accomodation: sponsored by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

Apex Hotels Ltd, UK

Best Low Carbon Transport & Technology: sponsored by Virgin Trains

Eurostar, UK

Best in a Mountain Environment: sponsored by Blacks

Explorandes, Peru

Best in a Marine Environment: sponsored by Tourism Tasmania

Blue o two, UK

Best for Poverty Reduction: sponsored by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Check Out for Children

Borana, Kenya

Best in a Park or Protected Area: sponsored by Conservation International

La Ruta Moskitia, Honduras

Best for Conservation of an Endangered Species: sponsored by Sri Lanka Tourism

Grootbos Nature Reserve, South Africa

Best for Conservation of Cultural Heritage: sponsored by Jamaica Tourist Board

Andaman Discoveries, Thailand

Best Volunteering Organisation: sponsored by Lonely Planet

Azafady, UK/Madagascar