Spotlight on Sustainable Tourism (SOST) by Spotlight on Sustainable Tourism (SOST)

Issue 8 ● August 2013 ISSN 2227-4065

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

•Sarinbuana Eco Lodge, Mount Batukaru, Bali •Heritance Tea Factory, Sri Lanka

Feature: One-Third - A Project on Food Waste

Feature: Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia Community-Based Tourism

Point of View: Green Growth & Travelism – A “Johnny Appleseed Journey”

Contents

Kumud Sengupta Managing Editor email: m.ed@sostinternational.com

23 SOST TEAM M. Ivanova B. Thomas J. Vaz

Contents

I. Syed

SOST August 2013

ABOUT SOST

03 Editorial

04 Feedback:

- Sarinbuana Eco Lodge, Bali - Heritance Tea Factory, Sri Lanka

SOST gets feedback from around the world

05 News & Events:

Green Growth & Travelism – A “Johnny Appleseed Journey”

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism: In the Spotlight:

Point of View:

SOST shares news and updates on its activities

07 Feature:

35 Market Intelligence: Middle East Ecotourism Survey

One Third – A Project on Food Waste

12 Feature: Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia; Community-Based Tourism

15 Youth Speak: Travelling Responsibly – The Impact on Sustainability

17 Interview: Dr. Sunil Kainthola, Founder-Director, Mountain Shepherds Initiative

Spotlight on Sustainable Tourism (SOST) is an e-journal published by Market Vision for internal circulation and to our clients and subscribers. It is available to our website visitors on: www.sostinternational.com

36 Green Showcase: Floating Leaf Eco Retreat, Bali

39 Market Vision: - Travel & Tourism Research & Consulting - Sustainable Travel Development – Advisory Services

Market Vision Research & Consulting Services FZ-LLC P.O. Box 32394, Dubai, UAE Tel: +9714-3911241 Fax: +9714-3911245 www.market-vision.com

Editorial

SOST is delighted to that its new website www.sostinternational.com has gained a lot of traction. Our Facebook page is also garnering some fans slowly but surely. Our subscriber base is growing and we added more than 200 new subscribers in the last few weeks. Please do subscribe to SOST, if you haven‟t already.

SOST’s mission is to motivate stakeholders in the travel & tourism industry to adopt sustainable business practices with the message that sustainable tourism is ‘Good for the Planet and Good for Business’.

SOST is pleased to announce that as a media partner with The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) for the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2013 (ESTC13) to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, from September 24-27, 2013, we will be covering the event live. I will also be presenting the first results of the Middle East Ecotourism Survey at ESTC13. In the current issue, we announce the Finalists for the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards. SOST is the media partner for these awards and will be present in Singapore when the winners are announced at ITB Asia in October 2013. The current issue of SOST is a very special one, not least because of two key features that we bring to you. One, that focuses on Global Food Waste through the photographic lens of Klaus Pichler, celebrated photographer based in Vienna, Austria. The second, an article on sustainability by 13 year old Kehkashan Basu an „eco warrior‟ who is a Grade 8 student in Dubai. In our Interview series, we feature an interview with Dr. Sunil Kainthola, Founder-Director of Mountain Shephards Initiative, a community owned and operated adventure tourism company in Uttarakhand, India. Another feature is on the 800 year old Banteay Chhmar Temple in Cambodia, where Community-Based Tourism is dedicated to preserving and protecting the cultural heritage of the area. In our Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism feature, we showcase Sarinbuana Eco Lodge in Bali , and Heritage Tea Factory, the highest located hotel in Sri Lanka. In Green Showcase, we take you to the Floating Leaf Eco Retreat in Bali - a new, innovative Eco Yoga Retreat set to open in January 2014. Our contributing writer for the column Point of View is Professor Geoffrey Lipman, director of greenearth.travel and Gatetrip, and President of International Coalition of Tourism Partners. He emphasizes the need to „shift our thinking beyond the goldfish bowl of the (tourism) industry itself‟, and simultaneously look at growth and green on the same page. Last but not the least, Market Vision„s Middle East Outbound Ecotourism Survey is completed and in the final stage of production. Read about its objectives and content in Market Intelligence, and get in touch to find out how to get the report. We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, we look forward to your comments and feedback. Let us know what else you would like to read about. Happy Reading!

Kumud Sengupta Managing Editor Certified Assessor & Consultant for Sustainable Tourism Founder-Director, Market Vision

Feedback

Congratulations and we are very pleased to see you sharing and participating on the web with sustainable tourism . I will be happy to spread the word and to participate whenever possible. Glenn Jampol, President National Association of Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Camara Nacional de Ecoturismo (CANAECO) Costa Rica

Thank you for alerting us to your latest issue of SOST with the Alila article. I have downloaded the issue and look forward to reading it soon. Thank you for your spotlight on Alila's sustainable practices. It will encourage us all to continue to work hard to lead in sustainable tourism. Mark A. Edleson, President Alila Hotels & Resorts , Singapore

Thanks for promoting the pledges for sustainability of Travel Foundation and Green Expo Riviera Maya! Giilda Sigi on Facebook

Thank you so much for your support and this great publicity. All the best to SOST. Carin Cowell, Founder Khanfous Retreat, Morocco

Thanks a lot SOST for giving me the opportunity to publish the story of two great Mexican CBET projects in the column Point of View "Community First: A Bottom-Up Approach to Sustainabilityâ&#x20AC;&#x153; Manuel Miroglio Consultant, International Speaker & Professor Mexico Thank you for the report done and for feeling part of this project. This helps our destination to be known worldwide as one of the best sustainable projects in Oaxaca. Once again thank you for your support. Maria Garcia S on Facebook Very interesting, I have just subscribed and look forward to next issues. Manuelle Prunier , Sustainable and Aboriginal Tourism Consultant Calgary, Canada

I find SOST one of the best around in the area of sustainability and thus would like to subscribe to it. Anthony Wong Managing Director, Frangipani Resort and Spa Langkawi Island Adjunct Professor Tourism, Hospitality and Events University Utara(Northern)Malaysia/Taylorsâ&#x20AC;&#x; University SOST is a great publication. I look forward to it always and find the articles to be of very high quality. Ali Mustafa Cairo, Egypt

SOST is read by a diverse audience consisting of professionals in the tourism industry, tourism business owners, destination marketers and academia. It has particularly found favour with those interested in sustainable and responsible tourism. SOST is promoted to (a) a growing database of subscribers and customers numbering over 10,000 travel and tourism industry professionals, and (b) online business networks with memberships exceeding 90,000. It is also read by visitors to its recently launched website: www.sostinternational.com, and Facebook page: www.facebook.com/sostjournal Launched in March 2012, four issues of SOST were published in the year. From 2013, SOST has become a bimonthly publication (six issues per year). For sponsorship and advertising details, please contact: advertise@sostinternational.com.

News & Events

The new website launched to coincide with the June issue has gained excellent momentum and good feedback. Over 200 new subscribers have come on board since its launch! SOST‟s Facebook page has also garnered some fans. Thank you to all those who‟ve liked SOST on the page. Keep the dialogue going. Please do subscribe to SOST on the website, if you haven‟t already.

As media partner for the 2013 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards, SOST is offering an exclusive advertising discount for responsible tourism businesses.  35% discount (off regular price) for Wild Asia fans – quote „WILD ASIA‟  Exposure to over 10,000 readers across Asia with an interest in responsible tourism, and another 90,000 worldwide

conference focused on the advancement of sustainability goals for the tourism industry. Promoting policies and practices benefiting businesses and communities, the ESTC helps to reinforce the role of tourism in building a more sustainable future. The ESTC13 is co-hosted by TIES, Kenya Tourism Board and the African Wildlife Foundation, and in cooperation with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and IUCN Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group.

 Advertise in the October 2013 issues to avail the discount  Feature in the 2013 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards Special ITB Asia edition, October 2013 Contact advertise@sostinternational.com for more information

The conference program, including training seminars, networking functions, exhibition and poster session – will take place at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, which stands on 50 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens incorporating a wide variety of indigenous trees and offering sanctuary to a startling array of birds and butterflies. More info: www. ecotourismconference.org

News & Events

Finalists in six categories for the Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards 2013 have been announced. Winners will be announced at the signature ceremony hosted at Asia‟s biggest business-to-business travel trade show, ITB Asia, in Singapore this October.

Best in Community Engagement and Development Bali CoBTA, Indonesia Bali Community Based Tourism Association (Bali CoBTA) is a non-profit and non-governmental organization that promotes sustainable tourism. Lisu Lodge, Thailand Lisu Lodge is part of a community-based project that aims to conserve the natural heritage of the Lisu hill tribes of northern Thailand.

Best in Cultural Preservation This award recognizes engagement and efforts by tourism businesses in preserving, enhancing and promoting local cultures and heritage. Apani Dhani, India Apani Dhani is based in the heart of Rajasthan. They offer eco-friendly accommodation, excursions and activities with locals such as cooking lessons, initiation to traditional arts and crafts.

Heritance Kandalama, Sri Lanka This hotel overlooks the eighth wonder of the world – the rock fortress of Sigiriya. It sits at the heart of the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka, close to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Most Inspiring Responsible Tourism Accommodation Provider Soneva Resorts, Thailand & Maldives Soneva Resorts is the original barefoot luxury brand, and still one of the travel industry‟s greatest innovators. The acronym SLOW LIFE (Sustainable-LocalOrganic-Wellness Learning-Inspiring-Fun -Experiences) explains the Soneva philosophy. Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Malaysia Sukau Rainforest Lodge nestles on the banks of the Kinabatangan River, home to many of Borneo‟s magnificent wildlife. It offers the rare comfort and luxury in the midst of the Borneo Rainforest whilst retaining an Eco-Lodge ethos.

Most Inspiring Responsible Tour Operator

Visit www.sostinternational.com for the complete article. Read it online or download your copy of SOST. Sampran Riverside, Thailand Sampran Riverside is a family-run property close to Bangkok, where visitors can experience authentic Thai way of life and learn about local wisdom.

Best in Protection of Natural Areas and/or Wildlife Conservation Ranweli Holiday Village, Sri Lanka Ranweli Holiday Village is an eco-friendly resort located on a 22-acre peninsula where mangrove forests and winding rivers converge to meet the sea. Scuba Junkie, Malaysia Scuba Junkie provides daily dive trips to more than 25 islands in the Celebes Sea in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

Best in Resource Efficiency Frangipani Langkawi Resport and Spa, Malaysia Frangipani Langkawi is an eco-friendly in Pantai Tengah, southwest of Langkawi. It is the first resort in Langkawi to implement Green practices to preserve the environment.

Papua Expeditions, Indonesia Papua Expeditions offers professionally guided birding, general wildlife, hiking and trekking expeditions in New Guinea‟s Wild West. Permanently based in West Papua, their ecotourism programme focuses exclusively on the little-known western half of New Guinea under Indonesian administration. ViaVia Tours, Indonesia ViaVia tours are varied and they all offer something unique. Adventure, gastronomy and culture. ViaVia in Jogja offers art space to young local artists and is also often the venue of concerts, performance art, film festivals etc. Part of its profits go to support educational, social and cultural projects in and around Jogjakarta.

Congratulations to all the Finalists, and Good Luck from SOST! Wild Asia‟s Responsible Tourism Awards (RTA) is one of the first tourism awards in Asia specifically focused on sustainable tourism best practices. Established in 2006, this annual award aims to recognize accommodation operators who are making a positive difference in the destination where they operate by adopting sustainable management practices. This year, a new category of award for the Most Inspiring Responsible Tour Operator has been launched. More info: http://tourism.wildasia.org/responsible-tourism-awards

Feature

One Third - A Project on Food Waste By Klaus Pichler

Visit www.sostinternational.com for the complete article. Read it online or download your copy of SOST. Klaus Pichler is an award winning photographer working for international clients and creating free projects. He lives and works in Vienna, Austria.

According to a UN study, one third of the world's food goes to waste - the largest part thereof in the industrialized nations of the global north. Equally, 925 million people around the world are threatened by starvation. The series of photographs titled 'One Third' describes the connection between individual wastage of food and globalized food production. Rotting food, arranged into elaborate still lifes, portrays an abstract picture of the wastage of food whilst the accompanying texts take a more in depth look at the roots of this issue. 'One Third' goes past the sell by date in order to document the full dimensions of the global food waste. This project is dedicated to the workers of the global food industry.

Feature

Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia Community-Based Tourism

Visit www.sostinternational.com for the complete article. Read it online or download copynational of SOST. Banteay Chhmar Temple your is one of Cambodiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s treasures. Dating from the Angkorian period, it is a precious and irreplaceable link to the cultural heritage of the Khmer people. For 800 years, the temple has remained mostly undiscovered, untouched and unprotected, leading to its gradual degradation. Banteay Chhmar Community-Based Tourism (CBT) is a group of local villagers dedicated to preserving and protecting the cultural heritage of the area as well as creating a sustainable tourism industry in Banteay Chhmar. They are supported by the Cambodian government, local authorities and partners such as Global Heritage Fund and Heritage Watch who are dedicating their time and effort to the templeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conservation and to the improvement in the livelihoods of the local community.

Youth Speak

Travelling Responsibly – The Impact on Sustainability By Kehkashan Basu

Kehkashan Basu is a 13 year old environmental and social activist living in Dubai, UAE whose sole objective is to involve and mobilise children and youth in the movement for a sustainable and green future. Born on 5th June which is also World Environment Day, she feels that it was pre-ordained that she should grow up to be an ecowarrior. Kehkashan is UNEP’s ( United Nations Environment Programme) Global Coordinator for Children & Youth and a member of its Major Groups Facilitating Committee. When I came upon a news report about Kehkashan and her long list of accomplishments, I contacted her and invited her to write for SOST. I had her article within 48 hours, as promised! Kehkashan is an inspiration not just to youth around the world, but to all those she impacts through her energetic and tireless efforts in spreading the message about sustainability. With motivated youth like her, the future of our children is in safe hands. SOST is delighted to bring you this amazing young lady and her perspective on travelling responsibly. - Managing Editor, SOST

Visit www.sostinternational.com for the complete article. Read it online or download your copy of SOST. The world is now a much smaller place thanks to the technological advances made in the last century. Almost all parts of the globe are connected and human migration is at an all time high. Social media has also brought about an increased awareness about the increased economic opportunities in various parts of the world thus resulting in people moving out of their native homeland to greener pastures.

The travel industry has been a direct beneficiary of the economic progress of the past decades. Every year there is an increase in the number of tourists which in turn results in greater and more intense transport networks , be it on land, air or sea. While all this is wonderful for the economy and also for society since this human intermingling leads to a more cohesive and open minded society, the impact on the environment is nothing short of disastrous. Mount Everest , the hallowed peak in the Himalayas , is now a mountain of trash. On an average , there are 35 expeditions annually to

the summit. The climbers bring with them tonnes of equipment and leave behind humongous amounts of litter which cause immeasurable damage to the mountain ecosystem.

Another iconic peak , Mt Fujiyama in Japan, has to bear the brunt of 200,000 hikers and tourists daily on its slopes. The trash they leave in their wake seeps into the ecosystem poisoning and degrading the hill side. While the economic benefits of this tourism splurge is immediate and real time, the ecological damage isn‟t so obvious to the eye hence it gets ignored. The travel industry provides livelihood to millions across the globe. But the wheels of this industry are one of the main causes of increasing the carbon footprint of our planet. Corporates and industry leaders have a big role to play in this regard to strike a balance between economic gains and offsetting this footprint. The concept of “carbon offsetting” needs to become a norm which all travel bodies and corporates need to comply with.

The concept of carbon offsets basically allows companies or even individuals to compensate or “offset” their greenhouse gas emissions through sponsorship of activities or projects that avoid release of or contribute to the absorption of carbon dioxide. In other words, one balances out one‟s economic gains with social and environmental responsibility, which is basically at the core of sustainable development. This concept of carbon offsetting can only be implemented with proper awareness and legislation. Left to itself, it will languish as another good concept which will only get talked about in conferences while our environment continues to get degraded. Civil society has a defining role to play in balancing out the three pillars of sustainability – we are the drivers of change and must take responsibility for the wellbeing of our planet‟s future. The pleasure of travel cannot be had at the expense of our environment.

Interview

Mountain Shepherds Initiative Community-owned & operated adventure tourism enterprise Launched in 2002, and officially incorporated as a private community-owned enterprise in 2008, the Mountain Shepherds Initiative (MSI) represents a grassroots effort to evolve a new model of tourism in the High Himalayas. Operating in the vicinity of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR) in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand, MSI’s vision is to create a model of sustainable tourism in which the community is not just a mere beneficiary, but emerges as the prime stakeholder in the region’s tourism map. MSI is an adventure tourism enterprise offering innovative treks and ventures including high altitude yoga for its clients.

How did the Mountain Shepherds Initiative come about? How did it gain momentum?

Visit www.sostinternational.com for the In this feature, Dr. Sunil complete article. Read it online or Kainthola, a psychologist and Founder-Director of MSI download copy of SOST. and one of the winnersyour of Leap Local International Tour Guides & Services Competition, takes us through the background, history, achievements and challenges of this wonderful grassroots organization that promotes ecological and environmental justice while providing the highest quality of tourism experiences to tourists.

The Mountain Shepherds Initiative (MSI) germinated in Lata, a high-altitude Himalayan village situated in Niti Valley, near India‟s border with Tibet. The people of the region, which forms the Western boundary of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, belong to the Bhotiya tribe, an Indo-Tibetan ethnic group.

Two events had a significant impact on the economy of the region. The first was the IndiaChina war in 1962 resulting in the closure of the age old cross border trade relationship with Tibet. The other was declaration of the Nanda Devi region as a National Park in 1982. The announcement aimed at protecting the place from further ecological damage due to mountaineering and trekking expeditions to the immensely popular Himalayan peak Nanda Devi and allowing the ecosystem to heal unfortunately had a deep negative impact on the local economy. Restrictions were imposed on the local communities, from grazing their herds, practicing religious rights inside the core zone,

Dr. Sunil Kainthola (right) with guests harvesting medicinal plants to collecting “fallen wood". What was extremely upsetting was the fact that these restrictions were imposed unilaterally, without consultation with the communities or any consideration regarding local livelihoods. In May 2001, after the formation of the new

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Sarinbuana Eco Lodge Mount Batukaru, Bali Sarinbuana Eco Lodge is located at 700 metres on the slopes of Mount Batukaru in a lush forested area in central Bali, Indonesia. It is owned by Norm and Linda vant Hoff and their two sons, Larz and Oska. Norm is from Australia and Linda is from New Zealand. They first came to Bali in the mid-eighties. In this interview, Linda vant Hoff talks to SOST about their motivation to set up the Sarinbuana Eco Lodge far away from their native country, and provides insights into the sustainable tourism policies and practices that they follow at the Lodge.

Visit www.sostinternational.com for the complete article. Read it online or download your copy of SOST. You and Norm started Sarinbuana Eco Lodge way back in 2000. How did it come about? What motivated you to set it up?

Norm had been consulting in the developed parts of Bali for several years, but commuting so far to work is not sustainable, so building an eco lodge was the obvious way to generate income for our family and for our remote, local community. There‟s no chance for social or environmental sustainability without a sustainable economy, so we needed to find a way to combine our green lifestyle, with sufficient income; this applies to families and whole communities. What are the key tenets of your sustainability policy? And how do you ensure it is implemented? Can you give us some details about the lodge‟s key features and the environmental best practices that you follow? Keep it simple, make plans of action, and get on with it! There are three basic criteria for assessing sustainability, against which all business can, and should be measured: Social, Environmental & Economic. Energy & water conservation, solid & liquid waste management, selecting green building

materials, employing locals & buying locally, growing some food in the gardens & providing some bird/ butterfly habitat, minimization of toxic chemicals, fair & safe working conditions, funding for social and environmental projects/programs… these are the „nuts and bolts‟ of sustainability, and they are routine in our operations by now. You will find more details about our management practices on our website: www.baliecolodge.com. As an example, we make efficient use of energy by following the following practices:  Our energy consumption through mains power is limited to max 6,500 wt  We encourage guests to turn off their lights when not in use  We use low flow shower hoses in guest showers  No baths to conserve water  Energy saving & LED light bulbs only throughout the property  Energy saving front loading washing machine to reduce water & energy consumption  Gas clothes dryer – used only when sunlight is not sufficient  Natural gas for cooking

Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

Heritance Tea Factory Sri Lanka

Roshanlal Perera, General Manager

Heritance Tea Factory is part of Heritance Hotels & Resorts, a collection of architecturally unique resorts that blend with their natural environment. A premium hotel brand, it is owned and managed by Aitken Spence Hotels, a management company with a 140 years heritage of trust and reliability. In this interview, Roshanlal Perera, General Manager, talks to SOST about Heritance Tea Factory, which to date is recognized as a global case study for green architecture, sustainable construction and operation.

Visit www.sostinternational.com for the complete article. Read it online or download your copy of SOST. Please provide a short background about Heritance Tea Factory.

Heritance Tea Factory situated 6800 ft. above sea level, in the Hethersett village is the highest located tea factory and hotel in Sri Lanka. A factory built during the British Raj, which had been abandoned for several decades, was converted and developed into a unique 54 room four star hotel by a former Chairman of Aitken Spence. This property started operation in November 1996 and was re-branded as Heritance Tea Factory on the 15th of December 2009. Heritance Tea Factory is recognized as an environment friendly hotel in Sri Lanka. What is your sustainability philosophy and what are the core tenets of your sustainability policy? Heritance Hotels represent a unique Green Philosophy that combines responsible tourism with environment friendliness. Sustainability is a core belief of the hotel and an integrated sustainable policy is implemented to every conceivable operational process, proactively across all functions and

levels. The hotel adopts best practices in environmental and social governance in harmony with the principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the Millennium Development Goals and adopts Global Reporting Initiative Sustainable Reporting.

change in outlook so as to make communities more cooperative and tolerable towards one another.

The hotels‟ sustainability objectives revolve around three core areas:  Enrich the lives of employees by providing a safe working environment, conducive to learning and maturing not just professionally, but personally too, thus creating responsible citizens of the future.  Manage the carbon footprint by implementing best practices in terms of energy, green cover, transport, resource management and getting involved in replanting the seeds of a healthy environment.

Heritance Tea Factory has the distinction of being built to ISO 14001 and EarthCheck certification scheme‟s strict environmental standards. What is the goal, and what does this mean from the point of view of sustainability?

 Reaching out to the communities that the hotel is directly and indirectly associated with such that their immediate and future prospects are considerably improved. Projects are aimed at not only creating livelihoods, but also bringing about a

We do not consider that our endeavour towards sustainability ends with the achievement of ISO 14001 and EarthCheck certifications,. We consider it as an endorsement of our compliance with the environmental standards.

Point of View

Green Growth & Travelism – A “Johnny Appleseed Journey” Our contributing writer for the column Point of View is Professor Geoffrey Lipman, director of greenearth.travel and Gatetrip, focusing on Green Growth Investment Roadmaps, Innovation and Development, and President of International Coalition of Tourism Partners. He emphasizes the need to ‘shift our thinking beyond the goldfish bowl of the (tourism) industry itself’, and simultaneously look at growth and green on the same page. Introduction

Green Growth – a First Paradigm

I have entitled my article Green Growth and Travelism – “A Johnny Appleseed Journey” after the man who wandered around America planting seeds, in the firm belief that one day orchards would be everywhere.

Governments, industry and civil society around the world are urgently focussing on Green Growth as the best strategy to cope with the economic volatility, development needs, environmental imperatives and climate realities of today. This coalescence can be found in strategic policy decisions of leadership institutions like the G20, UN, OECD,EU etc. and at the heart of most regional and national development strategies.

I believe today‟s challenges and opportunities now require a broader vision and a broader stakeholder engagement, to increase the richness of thought, to test the logic of paths pursued and to shift our thinking beyond the goldfish bowl of the industry itself. It has to simultaneously look at growth and green on the same page.

build the vision on a base of biodiversity that is essential to the wellbeing of our world. This is a multi-decade journey, with each country, locality and individual coming from a different starting point, with differing capacities and reasons to change - but ultimately we all have to get to the same end point.

Visit www.sostinternational.com for the complete article. Read it online or download your copy of SOST. Above all the time has come to put “green” on an equal footing with “growth” in policy deliberations, actions and financing. To consider the full “travelism” ecosystem not just the economy. With creative out of the box thinking, new technology and innovative financing approaches, this does not mean that growth is sacrificed but rather measured against impacts and lifecycle costs from the outset. Against this background, the key issues that merit discussion are: • The intersecting paradigm shifts that I call Green Growth and Travelism • The associated challenges and opportunities this presents for our industry

• The immense potential this offers destination marketers

They are looking for ways to create a fairer more equitable, happier society. And to cope tomorrow in a hyper-connected ecosystem, where we will have 30% more people, most living in big cities, putting greater strain on water and food. And where we need low carbon, resource efficient, inclusionary strategies to prevent “climate conflicts” and to keep the temperature at levels where our grandchildren don‟t freeze or fry.

The framework of response, summarized from Tom Friedman‟s seminal “Hot Flat and Crowded” is to shift from carbon producing “black” energy - oil and coal - to “white energy”– solar, wind, tidal, clean nuclear and the like. To link energy tech and info tech to handle the incredibly complex trillions of interfaces per second needed to handle the shift. To incorporate social inclusion meaningfully, so the base of the pyramid gets an equitable share of the costs and benefits to avoid also climate and resource wars. And to

Travelism – a Second Paradigm Policymakers are also fortunately recognizing more and more after two decades of concerted industry effort, that Travelism – the entire customer, company and community value chain - can play a much more significant role in this transformation; creating jobs, boosting trade, driving infrastructure, encouraging investment, supporting development and in the process increasing human well-being and happiness. If it is done properly. They see a powerful dynamic sector that is  accounting for some 8-10% of the world economy – directly and indirectly – up to 30% in tourism centric regions and one in every 12 jobs  growing ahead of GDP over the long term, with a sharp shift to the BRICS as engines of expansion  a major force for domestic consumption where 70% of operations are focused and for related infrastructure, investment and employment across economies.  6% of all trade, 30% of services trade and

Market Intelligence

Middle East Ecotourism Survey In July 2013, Dubai-based tourism research specialist Market Vision launched the first ever consumer study of its kind focussed on Middle East outbound ecotourism trends.

The Middle East is one of the smallest, yet fast growing, tourist generating regions in the world. By 2030, the region will generate 81 million tourist arrivals worldwide, double the current number of 40 million.

Middle East travellers are young, educated, affluent, high spenders – a lucrative market for destinations and other travel marketers.

Middle East travellers are always in search of new and unique „memorable‟ travel experiences Eco-consciousness among the Middle Eastern population is growing; eco-travellers make up well over one-tenth of the Middle East leisure travelling population. What is the profile of the Middle East traveller? What trends will drive future travel? Who are the best prospect target customers for ecotourism from this region? What are their motivations? What type of holidays and what type of activities will the eco-traveller indulge in?

Middle East Arrivals Generated Worldwide 81 (Million)

70 57

40 30 10

23 14

0 1990

2000

2005

2010

2020

2030

Source: UNWTO

How best do you communicate with these „best prospect‟ customers? The study provides destinations and tourism businesses with actionable insights to help tailor products & services, and marketing & communication strategies towards „best prospect‟ customers. For more information, write to ecosurvey@market-vision.com

Visit www.sostinternational.com for the complete article. Read it online or download your copy of SOST.

Green Showcase

Floating Leaf Eco Retreat, Bali

Floating Leaf Eco Retreat is a new, innovative Eco Yoga Retreat set to open in January 2014. It is located amongst verdant rice fields in a small local village called Ketewel in South Bali. Owned by Michael and Maryam Putu Doliveck, Floating Leaf Eco Retreat (http://balifloatingleaf.com/) will focus on giving back to the community, environmental stewardship and to providing a safe and relaxing oasis for guests to come and explore Bali‟s profound culture as well as personal wellness.

Floating Leaf Eco Retreat features in our Green Showcase, as it embodies the values and core principles of sustainability.

Sustainability Features

Visit www.sostinternational.com for the complete article. Read it online or download your copy of SOST. Michael Doliveck, an Art and Photography Professor for over 18 years, has been coming to Bali for more than two decades. He is an award-winning educator and photographer and loves to share his passion for Indonesia and it‟s many hidden wonders. He has written numerous articles on Bali‟s culture, art, mysticism, healers and more.

Michael and Marvam Putu Dolivek

Maryam Putu is from The Balinese Royal Family of Karangasm and was raised learning the traditional dances, healing arts and the culture of Bali. Her deep connection to the island and its people provides meaningful touchstones into the culture and locations on the island.

The entire property is built upon permaculture principles in order to be an exemplary model for sustainable living without compromising luxury, design or technology. Floating Leaf‟s commitment to sustainability includes a water purification plant, wastewater treatment facilities, rain harvesting, solar and wind power projects, green walls, recycling and conservation, supporting sustainable agriculture, water efficient landscaping and gardens and many other green initiatives. From Floating Leaf‟s nascent stages, the design team has been devoted to strict guidelines and ethics involving the creation of a true eco-friendly retreat center. They wanted to craft a facility that was functional as well as educational and inspirational. Hence, they based the approach on the ancient wisdom of

Market Vision

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