Ecotourism Daily Dose
Responsible Travel Matters to UK Holidaymakers
An exclusive survey carried out by The Times newspaper in the UK has revealed up to 78% of Britons take into account whether the holiday they’re booking is eco-friendly or responsible.
This is great news for those who have ploughed their time and efforts into providing environmentally sound tours, resorts and packages. And, wonderful news, too, for the Eco Travel and Tourism Guide, where I’m hoping all these holiday hounds will find some great advice and ideas.
Almost 90% of those surveyed feel that the impact their holiday will have on the local community is important and more than 80% of those surveyed feel holiday companies should be doing more to tackle social and environmental concerns.
Date: February 4th, 2008 |
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Sustainability is the New Black
Eco Fashion label Livity Outernational has collaborated with Californian-based lifestyle brand Boosted to present a fab new range of limited-edition, sustainable accessories.
Using organic materials like natural raffia straw, organic cotton, recycled plastics and hemp, designers have created something different for today’s eco-conscious traveller.
The two companies recognise youth culture is changing and that there is a big demand for environmentally friendly products, even in fashion. Livity Outernational have been committed to spreading the awareness of sustainability since their inception and use the fashion/streetwear markets to achieve their goal.
Date: January 24th, 2008 |
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Green Places to Stay in Northern Ireland
It’s hard to convince people to go to the North of Ireland sometimes, too many believe everything they read and see in the media. It is a rugged, weather beaten, beautiful, unspoilt territory that’s been rarely travelled.
Residents, though, know they’ve got a potential tourist goldmine on their doorstep and have been ready and waiting for the past 30 years.
Are you ready to ramble?
Omagh Hostel, County Tyrone
This friendly, family-run hostel near the Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone is the most environmentally-conscious hostel you’ll ever come across.
The accommodation is not fussy or fancy but it’s clean, comfortable and welcoming and rates highly with eco travellers.
Greenie Points: Opened since 1991, Omagh Hostel is a working organic farm employing a number of sustainable and eco friendly practices, too many to mention them all but enough to achieve the coveted EU Flower Ecolabel.
Check out their website for more eco information.
Dorm beds: £12 pp
Private Rooms: £15pp
Camping: £12 /tent
Date: January 17th, 2008 |
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Travel Like Royalty, Take The Train
It’s not every day you see the Queen of England taking the train but last week, for an official engagement, Queenie and Prince Philip took the morning train to work, like everyone else.
Every year the Royal Family spends winter at Sandringham, their country retreat in Norfolk, England, and would ordinarily attend public engagements by chauffeur driven car or by helicopter, a mode of transport popular with celebrities and politicians.
But now, with all the commotion about climate change and pollution, it seems that even those on the throne are keen make an example and are travelling more frequently by train; and with commoners too if you please.
Date: January 14th, 2008 |
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Top 10 Eco-friendly Destinations
If you’re keen on going green this year and are thinking of booking an eco-friendly holiday, check out this list recommended by online travel community IgoUgo, (owned by Travelocity).
Editors of IgoUgo painstakingly reviewed journals posted by some of their 350,000 members. The comments listed are the traveller’s own.
Now where’s that bank I can rob?
1. Buck Island Reef National Monument – St Croix, US Virgin Islands
“The reef surrounding was named America’s first-ever underwater national monument in 1961 which, naturally, has resulted in an ecosystem so thriving and well-preserved that 30,000 visitors a year flock to see it, making it the single most popular attraction on St Croix. This was the highlight of our vacation!”
2. Sea Turtle Watching in Rekawa – Rekawa, Sri Lanka
“The reason we picked Tangalla in the first place was that a nearby beach, Rekawa, is Sri Lanka’s most popular beach for nesting sea turtles. At Rekawa, five of the seven species of sea turtle come to nest, with the most popular being the green turtle. We arrived at the beach at about 8:30 and by about 9:30, one of the staff had spotted a turtle.”
Date: January 10th, 2008 |
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Ecotourism Australia Up For Top Travel Award
As I’m writing from Australia at the moment and the country has just celebrated Australia Day, I thought I’d make today’s entry about this hot and dry but rather lovely land.
Australia has long been in touch with their eco side and have had eco lodges around long before the idea of ecotourism became trendy, and they are soon to be awarded for their efforts… maybe.
The World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) have just revealed Ecotourism Australia is one of three finalists for a coveted Tourism for Tomorrow Award in the conservation category. The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards showcase a selection of “the world’s leading examples in sustainable tourism development”
Date: February 3rd, 2008 |
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ECO Travel Trailer, Eco Friendly RV
If you prefer caravanning over hostels and hotels check out the Skamper Eco Travel Trailer. Weighing only 3000lbs, the latest light-weight mobile home is a great idea if you plan to cover large distances on vacation. All you have to do is lock the trailer on to the tow bar and sashay off to the sunshine.
Eco-RV are marketing it as a more ecologically-friendly mode of transport saying the seven-foot wide trailer is aerodynamically designed to reduce wind drag, thus increasing fuel economy but that’s pretty much where …
Date: January 24th, 2008 |
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Green Places to Visit in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland, a green getaway in the colourful sense of the word, is turning out to be something of an eco destination with travellers keen to discover the sunnier side of the once troubled province.
Yes, Northern Ireland has had problems and there’s still a little fine tuning going on but now that the peace process has been sorted and an independent government is in state the region is safer than ever before for travellers. In fact, it was voted as the safest region in the UK and the second safest country in the world by the United Nations.
Now visitors are heading to the North in their droves, curious to see what’s on offer. Trust me; it’s not all red-bricked housing and murals.
Date: January 16th, 2008 |
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Book Review: Slow Travel by Mari Rhydwen
Slow Travel by Mari Rhydwen
Allen & Unwin, 2004
If, like me, you’re constantly thinking of packing it all in to travel the world, read this book at your peril because you might end up doing just that.
And it’s exactly what author Mari Rhydwen and her husband, Allen, did. They sold their home in Western Australia, bought a yacht and set sail on a voyage around the Indian Ocean for three years, stopping at various islands and ports that few will ever visit.
Slow Travel is a journey of discovery and reveals in great detail how wonderful it is to shake loose the shackles of the everyday rat race and dive head long into your dreams.
Date: January 13th, 2008 |
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Japan Halts Hunt on Endangered Humpback Whales
A few months ago Eco Travel Logue reported Japan’s intentions to cull 50 humpback whales and 50 fin whales in addition to their yearly quota of 300 minke whales, all in the name of research – somewhat dubious research.
Good news; after international negotiations this week Chief Cabinet Secretary of the International Whaling Commission, Mr Nobutaka Machimura, announced that Japan have reneged on their slaughter of the threatened humpback, for the time being.
Japan has agreed …
Date: January 10th, 2008 |
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