These virtual clearinghouses and forums have led the way in showing enthusiasts how to engage in responsible travel.
Web Site recommended by Ron Mader of Planeta.com EcoClub (www.ecoclub.com) The International Ecotourism Club, based in Athens, Greece, is a global cooperative network promoting ecotourism. This is one of the most popular websites spotlighting eco-lodges and activists around the globe. Posts news on ecotourism, events, and jobs; also provides features, a publications archive, and first-rate real-time chats. Recommended: Search page for ecolodges, environmentally friendly hotels, tours, and services (www.ecoclub.com/lodges.html) Interviews with leading ecotourism personalities (www.ecoclub.com/news/interview.html) Online Message Board: www.ecoclub.com/c
Blog: www.ecoclub.com/blogs
Gallery: www.ecoclub.com/gallery
Cost: Mix of Free/Pay (various membership levels)
Contact: 011-30-21-06-71-9671. Email: a@ecoclub.com
Planeta.com is Ron Mader’s popular, award-winning site for serious ecotourism. It provides free access to more than 10,000 pages for travelers, students, and policy-makers. Developed in 1994 as a reporter’s notebook (a forerunner of today’s blog), Planeta pioneered online environmental and tourism reporting and works toward sustainable development. The site features news, articles, an eco-travel directory, recommended reads, and a world forum linking to all Planeta discussion boards. Recommended: World Travel Directory (www.planeta.com/worldtravel.html);
Ecotourism Resource Guide: www.planeta.com/ecotravel/etour.html
Travel Checklist: www.planeta.com/ecotravel/resources/checklist.html
Message Board: forum.planeta.com
Photo Gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/planeta
Contact: Ron Mader (editor@planeta.com).
Sustainable Travel International (www.sustainabletravelinternational.org) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote sustainable development and responsible travel by providing programs that help consumers, businesses, and travel-related organizations protect the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic needs of the places they visit, and the planet at large. Recommended: The following STI “Programs”—MyClimate™ greenhouse gas offsets program, which enables travelers and travel companies to support sustainable development and environmental conservation while helping to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions that result from travel; The Green Travel Market provides comprehensive, up-to-date information on sustainable tourism products and services; The Eco-directory is a unique destination guide designed to help travelers make responsible travel choices. The travel providers in the Eco-directory have been chosen for their commitment to sustainable tourism. Listings indicate eco-certification status; Travel Philanthropy promotes, publicizes, and informs the public about credible travel philanthropy programs in the global marketplace. Cost: Mix of Free/Pay
Blog: blog.sustainabletravel.com
Contact: 720-273-2975. Email: info@sustainabletravel.com
TransitionsAbroad.com
The Travel Abroad section of Transitions Abroad’s online portal offers a comprehensive section on Responsible Travel and Ecotourism. It features responsible travel programs, and article archives, and links to key websites and organizations.
Recommended: The Responsible Travel Advisor section offers a selection of how-to articles and a free PDF version of the 2006 Responsible Travel Handbook ).
Volker Poelzl’s Resources for a Global Consciousness (see Transitions Abroad Sept./Oct. 2006 or www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/living/resources/global_news_sources.shtml)
Contact: 802-442-4827. Email: info@transitionsabroad.com.
The Travel Abroad section of Transitions Abroad’s online portal offers a comprehensive section on Responsible Travel and Ecotourism. It features responsible travel programs, and article archives, and links to key websites and organizations.
Recommended: The Responsible Travel Advisor section offers a selection of how-to articles and a free PDF version of the 2006 Responsible Travel Handbook ).
Volker Poelzl’s Resources for a Global Consciousness (see Transitions Abroad Sept./Oct. 2006 or www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/living/resources/global_news_sources.shtml)
Contact: 802-442-4827. Email: info@transitionsabroad.com.
Other Key Responsible, Ethical, and Sustainable Travel Web Sites
Earthfoot, www.earthfoot.org, is a virtual Internet community specializing in eco-sensitive people-to-people travel to destinations worldwide.
Ecotour Directory, www.ecotourdirectory.com, is an online directory of ecotours and ecolodges around the world.
G.A.P Adventures, www.gapadventures.com, is a Canada-based travel company, offering responsible and sustainable tours such as trekking, safaris, ecotourism, cultural tours, etc. to many destinations worldwide.
Global Exchange, www.globalexchange.org, offers socially responsible Reality Tours to over thirty developing countries worldwide.
IntrepidTravel.com, www.intrepidtravel.com, is a tour operator that offers environmentally, culturally and socially responsible tours for small groups, with destinations worldwide.
Journeys International, www.journeys-intl.com, is a family-owned global adventure travel company in the US, specializing in guided cross-cultural explorations, nature safaris, treks and eco-tours in remote corners of the globe.
Peregrine Adventures, www.peregrineadventures.com, is an Australia-based travel service, promoting ecological and responsible tours for small-groups.
ResponsibleTravel.com, www.responsibletravel.com, is a U. K.-based, online travel agent providing a directory of over 270 organizations and businesses that engage in responsible, sustainable, and ecological tourism activities.
The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), www.ecotourism.org, promotes responsible and sustainable travel. The site lists ecotourism operators worldwide in its Travel Choice section.
Travelroots, www.travelroots.com, lists responsible eco-tourism holidays to destinations worldwide.
Tribes Travel, www.tribes.co.uk, is a UK-based travel company offering holidays and safaris run on fair trade and responsible travel principles.
Wildland Adventures, www.wildland.com, is an ecotourism company for small groups, safaris, and adventure vacations in countries worldwide.
World Expeditions, www.worldexpeditions.com, based in the UK (with offices in Australia, USA, Canada & New Zealand), offers trekking and small group adventure holidays, based on responsible and sustainable travel principles.