The new Child Welfare Guidelines launched by G Adventures, Planeterra, and ChildSafe are a useful sustainability tool for tourism businesses
These days, more and more travelers are seeking authentic and transformative experiences that bring them face-to-face with local communities and immerse them in the local culture. However, as this desire for community-based experiences and social impact travel grows, so do the risks for children.
With its white sandy shores and expansive coral reefs, it’s no surprise that the Mexican Caribbean is a popular tourist destination. However, tourists aren’t the only visitors that frequent the region. The Mexican Caribbean is home to several important sea turtle nesting beaches. Every year, from May to October, thousands of turtles – green, hawksbill, and the occasional leatherback – return to these beaches to lay their eggs.
The stewardship success story of Mexico’s hidden garden
Guest Contribution By Jonathan B. Tourtellot, Destination Stewardship Center. This post is part of the “The World’s Inspiring Places” blog series which showcases stories of destination stewardship success. Click here to learn more about the series and watch other videos.
Few road cuts have a romantic name, but this one does: Puerta del Cielo—the “Doorway to Heaven.” It’s where Mexico route 120 winds upward from the dry flats north of Querétaro city, past the towering monolith of Peña de Bernal, and finally slices through the top of a forested ridge into the region called Sierra Gorda.Destination stewardship means taking care of the places we love, and Sierra Gorda leads the way in doing just that, creating a memorable destination for the types of travelers who want a friendly and genuine Mexican experience. On a week-long visit here, you can sample flavorful food and drink, explore lush and healthy natural areas, try adventures from zip lines and spelunking to hiking and rock climbing, check out beautifully maintained historic missions and village streets, and visit locally run businesses and workshops, all amid steep, eye-grabbing mountain scenery, much of it still clad in voluntarily preserved forest.
Introducing The World’s Inspiring Places Video Series
One of the ways we can inspire change and drive transformative action is by exchanging ideas and learning from others. Great things are happening all around us, but we’re not talking about them enough. As part of our efforts, we’re dedicated to sharing stories of the different ways that people, businesses, and destination leaders are protecting nature and safeguarding human well-being in tourism destinations around the globe.
Day in and day out, thousands of travelers set foot on St. Kitts’ shores. During their visit, they stay in hotels, go on tours, and eat in restaurants, meeting countless locals who work in the industry. Yet these tourists are largely unaware of the environmental and socio-cultural challenges facing St. Kitts and the opportunities they have to make a positive impact. As the ones who are on the frontline interacting with these visitors on a daily basis, tourism workers are in a unique position to drive a transformation in the industry and spread awareness of sustainable tourism practices. However, before this can happen, they must first become familiar with the principles of sustainability themselves and know how businesses and travelers can take action.
Growing up in St. Kitts in a family rooted deep in agriculture, Kenney Manning has always felt a deep connection to the local environment. Now, as the Farm Manager at St. Kitts Eco-Park, Kenney’s day-to-day life combines this love of nature with the island’s booming tourism industry.
