Articles Tagged with: sustainable tourism

A new report by Ethical Traveller has revealed the top ten ethical destinations for 2011 – just in time for the post-Christmas holiday booking rush. The countries tipped as the leaders for the coming year are (in alphabetical order):

1. Argentina
2. Barbados
3. Chile
4. Costa Rica
5. Dominica
6. Latvia
7. Lithuania
8. Palau
9. Poland
10. Uruguay

The not for profit alliance produces this list every year, with the aim of inspiring travellers and helping them to pick destinations that will not only provide a memorable experience, but where visiting can also have a positive impact on the destination itself.

To come up with the list, the organisation undertakes a study of developing nations, to help identify the “best” holiday locations. Researchers look at three key areas: human rights, environmental protection and social welfare and compare not only current data, but past information, to see how a country’s record has improved over time.

Latin America scored particularly well on environmental protection, with Costa Rica one of only four nations globally to score between 100-85 points in the Environmental Policy Index. Costa Rica also received commendation for improving its human rights record by taking firm measures to address human trafficking problems.

Notably, no African or Asian destinations appear in the list. The World Cup apparently had an impact in South Africa – the tournament was linked to an increase in sex trafficking in the country and the report also mentions that several families were forced to re-locate to make way for development projects, without being offered suitable housing alternatives.

Asian countries did not make the list because of what the report authors call a “poor human rights record and lack of strong environmental policy.” Issues such as whaling and dolphin hunting in Japan have attracted negative attention from the alliance over the past year and continue to cause concern.

The island of Barbados scored particular praise for organising the Caribbean Green Economic Conference for 2011 and was the destination which scored highest overall in the Envioronmental Protection Index.

Ethical Traveller point out that no destination is perfect and that there are always improvements to be made. They hope however that the list will help travellers choose wisely and that this list will inspire countries worldwide to strive to improve their environmental, social and human rights record.

Sustainable tourism must go mainstream if the travel industry is to stand a chance of tackling climate change and poverty, a leading environmental pioneer has warned.

Campaigner, writer and former Friends of the Earth boss, Tony Juniper, made the claim at the opening of the World Responsible Tourism Day in London last week.

Speaking as part of the World Travel Market industry conference, Juniper told an audience of travel industry professionals that unless mainstream operators use their multi-billion pound spending power to market sustainable options, some of the world’s most precious destinations would be lost.

“It is not just a morally lauded choice, it is in our long-term interest,” he warned, spelling out the threat climate change poses to destinations from the ski resorts of Europe to Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and Maldives holidays.

Jupiter warned that in order for the travel industry to make a significant contribution to the fight against environmental destruction, green tourism has to become more than just a travel choice for the affluent middle classes. He called for delegates to “step up and create that change” by making sustainable tourism a mainstream option as well as just an aspirational choice.

While Jupiter acknowledges that there aren’t currently any technologies available to make air travel carbon-free, he told the audience that the travel industry could be doing more to to reduce carbon emissions on the ground. Rather than employing the mindset that green travel is a specialist niche with nothing to do with them, anyone involved in the travel and tourism industry should be using technologies such as low-carbon buildings and electric vehicles as standard, Jupiter said.

While the World Tourism Day events attracted a large audience of senior professionals from across the travel industry as a whole, it’s apparent there is still a very long way to go before green travel goes mainstream. On the same day that Tony Jupiter issued his timely warning to the industry, the boss of one of the biggest Caribbean hotel groups admitted his hotel group does nothing at all to measure its carbon footprint.

Sandals boss, Adam Stewart, said measuring carbon emissions is irrelevant during a heated panel debate: “There’s zero relevance if I walk into our hotels in the six islands we operate in and say my carbon footprint is this but every single hotel tracks diesel and LPG usage,” Stewart told the BBC’s Stephen Sackur. Let’s just hope Jupiter wasn’t there to hear the comment or he may just wish he’d stayed in bed!

Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort

Looking for a wonderful, eco-friendly vacation that is both good and good for you? Then look no further than Costa Rica’s Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort. The resort is launching its latest programs committed to promoting an Ayurvedic lifestyle. The programs, which last a minimum of seven days, combine diet, nutrition, exercise, lifestyle and spirituality.

“Ayurveda is an intricate system of healing and living that originated in India thousands of years ago,” says Managing Director Uwe Wagner. “For guests wishing to explore or adopt the benefits of an Ayurvedic lifestyle, we offer a full immersion. Our comprehensive approach ensures that our guests’ health is primary. Management of weight gain or weight loss, spiritual harmony, stress reduction, and healthful eating are taught by our nutritionist in conjunction with therapies administered by the Grand Spa’s trained staff.”

In May 2009, Tabacon was certified as a 100% carbon neutral resort, and was the first hotel in the world to receive the Seven Stars and Stripes “green” certificate.  The 114-room resort is also at the forefront of Costa Rica’s sustainability efforts, with its rainforest-set spa and views of the “live” Arenal volcano. The resort is also the recipient of a three-leaf designation for Sustainable Tourism.

Tabacon Grand Spa Facial

Tabacon boasts 12 natural hot spring pools, natural waterfalls, lagoons, thermal river pools and exotic gardens.  There are 11 outdoor treatment bungalows, a Yoga studio, and a host of indigenous treatments.  Choose from one of seven, 10, 14, 21 or 30-day programs, all of which are under the supervision of a licensed nutritionist.

Your program will follow a customized daily regimen focusing on nutritional intake and fitness, personal training, and relaxation with treatments such as an Ayurvedic Shirodhara massage designed to open the chakras with hot oil poured on the sixth chakra and hot stones massaged into hands and feet. Other thermal and water treatments harmonious with the Ayurvedic way-of-life include volcanic mud wraps as well as Watsu and Temazca, which offer thermal, stress-relief benefits and tap into the resort’s unique location near the Arenal Volcano and the volcano’s ambient energy.
Tabacon has been listed as one of the “Best Hotel Spas” in Travel + Leisure’s World Travel Awards; one of the “best spas” by Luxist, Spa Magazine and Luxury SpaFinder; and one of the top eco-spas in the World by Concierge.com.

For more information, visit www.tabacón.com or call ++506-2519-1999 or toll free 1-877-277-8291.