Six non-governmental organizations call for a rebalance in tourism as the sector recovers from COVID-19 

SEATTLE, WA – 16 June 2020 – Six organizations have come together for the first time to form The Future of Tourism Coalition with the global mission to place destinations at the center of recovery strategies  – the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), Destination Stewardship Center, Green Destinations, Sustainable Travel International, Tourism Cares, and the Travel Foundation, with the guidance of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). 

Decades of unfettered growth in travel have put the world’s treasured places at risk – environmentally, culturally, socially, and financially.  The travel and tourism industries face a precarious and uncertain future due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, with international tourist numbers projected to fall 60-80% in 2020. As tourism moves forward and recovers, re-centering around a strong set of principles is vital for long term sustainable and equitable growth.

To rally global change, the Coalition has put forth Guiding Principles that outline a bold vision for tourism’s path forward and is calling on tourism agencies, travel companies, governments, investors, non-governmental organizations, and destination communities to commit to them.

Twenty-two founding signatories who represent a diverse cross-section of key industry stakeholders have committed thus far. They are influencers in the movement, demonstrating leadership and adherence to the Guiding Principles in their product and business practices. They will provide guidance to the Coalition as plans are put in place to support travel and tourism entities long-term in their strategy to place destinations and communities at the core of their work. Those signatories include Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), Ecotourism Australia, G Adventures, Global Ecotourism Network, Government of the Azores, Government of Colombia, Hilton, Innovation Norway, Intrepid Travel, Jordan Tourism Board, Lindblad Expeditions, MT Sobek, Palau Bureau of Tourism, Riverwind Foundation (Jackson Hole, WY), Slovenian Tourist Board, Swisscontact, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, The Travel Corporation, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association, Tourism Council Bhutan and the World Wildlife Fund.

Interested travel and tourism stakeholders are invited to show their support and become part of the movement by joining as signatories. Visit www.futureoftourism.org.

The Guiding Principles provide a clear moral and business imperative for building a healthier tourism industry while protecting the places and people on which it depends. Those Principles call for signatories to:

1. See the whole picture
2. Use sustainability standards 
3. Collaborate in destination management
4. Choose quality over quantity
5. Demand fair income distribution
6. Reduce tourism’s burden
7. Redefine economic success
8. Mitigate climate impacts
9. Close the loop on resources 
10. Contain tourism’s land use
11. Diversify source markets
12. Protect sense of place
13. Operate business responsibly

The foundation of these principles was built on a firm belief that taking a holistic approach to responsible and sustainable tourism is the only way to secure the future the Coalition stands for. 

“The recent crisis in tourism has shown us just how much tourism relies and depends on local and global communities,” said Maja Pak, Director at the Slovenian Tourist Board (STB). “We have already strengthened ties with local communities and tourism authorities from across the country. We now find that sharing our experiences and gaining best practice examples from other countries will be the key to successfully navigate the post-corona tourism universe. This is where the role of the Future of Tourism Coalition will be vital. The STB is looking forward to cooperating with the Coalition and to progress further with the reset of tourism, especially in this new reality, where sustainability and destination needs, as well as trust, will have to be placed at the center of tourism’s future.”

The Coalition recognizes that a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is fundamental to achieving its Guiding Principles. The travel and tourism industry has much work to do, and the Coalition will act with intentionality in addressing the role that racial and environmental justice play in creating a more equitable tourism economy. The Coalition members have made a commitment to listen, learn, and seek change by engaging with signatories and other entities as a part of that journey, and this work will be guided by GSTC indicators and criteria related to equity, inclusion, and non-discrimination. 

In a joint statement, the CEOs of the organizations represented in the Coalition said, “It is imperative that every organization evaluates how they will actively place the needs of destinations and equity within their communities at the center of tourism development, management, and promotion decisions. There is no stable future for tourism if this is not done now – together, responsibly, and vigorously. This is not a short-term effort, this is the future. Long-term resilient social, economic, and environmental recovery and regeneration will require all sectors of industry to rethink how tourism works, who it works for, and how success is defined.”

The path to change is a journey and lasting solutions take time. The Coalition will support the industry by providing the tools, guidance and collaboration to ensure a stronger path forward and encourage a diverse and inclusive set of signatories to sign on and share their perspectives and experiences to collectively work toward a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for all. For more information, visit www.futureoftourism.org 

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The Future of Tourism Coalition is a collaborative effort to chart a new, more sustainable direction for tourism and shift the status quo. The Coalition is comprised of six non-governmental organizations, the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), Destination Stewardship Center, Green Destinations, Sustainable Travel International, Tourism Cares, and the Travel Foundation, with the guidance of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), that stand united in an appeal for change. The Coalition is pursuing a shared global mission: to place destination needs at the center of tourism’s new future. Through commitment of their Guiding Principles, the greater travel industry and destination agencies can align around a path forward for a more sustainable future for tourism. For more information, visit www.futureoftourism.org 

Media Contacts: 

EUROPE: 

Ben Lynam, The Travel Foundation: 07866 155700 / [email protected]

ASIA

Roi Ariel, GSTC: [email protected] 

NORTH AMERICA

Jessica Flores, Tourism Cares: +1-781-821-5990 x212 / [email protected]

Los Angeles, USA, Wednesday 18th December – Dietl International, one of the largest fine arts logistics houses and a Rock-it Cargo company, has taken a leading position in the art logistics community by offsetting the environmental impact of transporting air cargo to this month’s Art Basel exhibition in Miami, Florida.

Dietl International shipped a total of 167 metric tonnes (368,172 pounds) of artworks by air to the show, including a Cargolux charter between Luxembourg and Miami, which carried artwork from galleries in Germany, Switzerland, France, and the United Kingdom.

The move generated 644 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide, for which Dietl has purchased carbon offsets in support of the JARI AMAPA REDD project in Brazil, which aims to protect a large area of forest in the Valley of Jari, home to over 2000 animal species and provide economic opportunities for over 2000 families living there.

Dietl International has sponsored the entire incoming air freight offset and has challenged its clients and other galleries to participate with contributions of their own as the artwork is shipped back from the show.

“In the art world, this has become a hot topic,” said Fritz Deitl, President of New York-headquartered Dietl International.

“However, for it to work, we need to be able to offer cost-effective green solutions.

“Galleries have such small profit margins that it has to make sense for them, or they won’t buy in.”

“When companies partner with Dietl or any of our other Rock-it companies, they now have the option of investing in third-party certified carbon reduction projects that combat climate change,” said Rock-it Cargo President Paul J. Martins.

“In addition to reducing emissions, these projects help protect forests and the biodiversity within and create opportunities for communities to better their livelihoods and health”.

Dietl International also coordinated the movement and importation of a number of ocean containers and organized climate-controlled, high-cube art trailers for US domestic shippers and was responsible for transporting close to half of the artwork viewed at the event.

“There is no single formula for success in a move so elaborate,” shares Jason Losh, Director of Business Development at Dietl International.

“The key to succeeding is handling every single item as an individual shipment; a single chance to engage an extreme measure of specialization to ensure the pristine arrival of priceless works of art.”

Art Basel takes place annually in Miami Beach, Florida; Basel, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.

This year’s four day Miami event included contemporary media featuring art from over 250 participating galleries in the United States, Central and South America, Europe, and Asia.

Dietl International withheld announcing its carbon offset purchase until the details had been finalized with the company’s partner, Sustainable Travel International.

Carbon credits, often called carbon offsets, are available for businesses to offset their emissions by helping to direct capital toward projects that reduce carbon dioxide by capturing/storing existing CO2 or preventing new emissions from happening.

Projects may also provide benefits that go beyond carbon reduction, such as protecting forests and the biodiversity within, or creating opportunities for communities to better their livelihoods and health.

One carbon credit is equal to one metric tonne of carbon.

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For a plain text version of the press release, and to download high resolution images, click here.

Media Contact

Meantime Communications

Justin Burns

Tel: +44 (0)20 8853 5554

hello(at)meantime.global

Visit Meantime Communications

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About Dietl International

Dietl International began as a two-person office in 1991 at JFK airport in New York and is today the largest logistics provider in the United States devoted entirely to the special needs and requirements of shipping artwork. With ten locations throughout the United States, Dietl International now has ninety-five employees dedicated to the safe transportation and handling of valuable works of art.

Fritz Dietl is a founder and board member of a leading art handling, crating, and storage provider in New York state that manages over 150,000 square feet of art space. He also owns and operates the Delaware Freeport, providing 100,000 square feet of cost-effective, high-security, museum-quality art storage for the region. 

About Rock-it Cargo

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, and founded in 1978, Rock-it Cargo (“Rock-it”) is a provider of high-touch, mission-critical air, ocean and surface freight forwarding and logistics to the live entertainment and music touring, fine arts, sports and broadcasting, corporate events, industrial power projects, and humanitarian relief end markets through its family of six affiliated leading brands (including but not limited to, Rock-it Cargo, Dietl, Sound Moves, Cargo Live and Waiver).  

With 32 owned offices in 12 countries and a network of long-standing partner agents, Rock-it provides global services to the more than 190 countries. Rock-it is backed by ATL Partners private equity capital.  

ATL investment professionals and the members of its Executive Board, all of whom are accomplished senior executives in the focus sectors of Aerospace, Transportation and Logistics, provide Rock-it the perfect partner to continue the company’s strong growth trajectory.

To find out more visit www.rockitcargo.com

About Sustainable Travel International

Sustainable Travel International is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and conserving our planet’s most vulnerable destinations. We are transforming tourism’s impact on nature and people by working alongside local communities, engaging travelers and businesses in responsible practices, and strengthening destination management. Through our work, we aim to safeguard nature, combat climate change, and empower communities to preserve the integrity of destinations around the globe. To learn more visit www.sustainabletravel.org

Sustainable Travel International launches a social media campaign that empowers visitors to play a role in monitoring and conserving the Mesoamerican Reef by sharing photos of the coral, pollution, and marine life they see while exploring the reef

COZUMEL, MEXICO (October 22, 2019) – The nonprofit Sustainable Travel International is launching its #SupportNEMO social media campaign to fight a mysterious coral disease that is ravaging the Mesoamerican Reef. The campaign takes an innovative, citizen-powered approach to reef conservation by engaging divers, snorkelers, and other visitors in monitoring the disease by sharing photos of what they see while exploring the reef. 

The #SupportNEMO campaign is the first phase of Sustainable Travel International’s larger NEMO (Natural Environment Marine Observers) program which aims to reduce human impacts on the Mesoamerican Reef and empower visitors to more actively protect it by:

1. Raising community awareness about the reef and how to conserve it  
2. Collecting monitoring data for marine scientists on reef health and threats;
3. Informing and funding response expeditions to eradicate threats and keep the reef healthy

The “White Syndrome” Coral Disease

The Mesoamerican Reef is the world’s second largest reef system, stretching over 600 miles (1000+ kilometers) from Mexico to Honduras. Every year, more than 16 million people visit the Mesoamerican Reef, many of whom participate in reef-based activities such as diving and snorkeling. While tourism to the reef provides valuable economic benefits and supports nearly 2 million livelihoods, it also creates harmful impacts, such as pollution and physical damage, that endanger the fragile ecosystem. 

In June 2018, scientists discovered a coral disease outbreak, known locally as “Síndrome Blanco” (White Syndrome) that is killing over 20 coral species and spreading rapidly across the Mesoamerican Reef.  In just a matter of weeks, the disease can destroy entire coral structures, some of which took hundreds of years to grow. While the cause of the outbreak is still unknown, scientists believe that it may be due to poor water quality and that it is the same as the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) that has affected over half of the Florida Reef Tract and spread to the Caribbean. 

“The Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) spreads incredibly fast and has a very high mortality rate. For the more than 20 coral species afflicted by this disease, the amount of coral lost in the first six months of the outbreak alone, is equivalent to the amount that was lost over the previous 40 years,” said Dr. Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip, Principal Researcher at the Biodiversity and Reef Conservation (BARCO) Lab at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). “We need all the support we can get to monitor this disease in order to minimize further damage.”

How to Participate in the #SupportNEMO Campaign

The #SupportNEMO campaign offers divers, snorkelers, and other visitors to the Mesoamerican Reef a way to collect monitoring data that will help scientists protect the reef. While on the reef, individuals are asked to keep an eye out for coral that may be infected with the disease by looking for colonies that have white bands, spots, or lesions. Guidance on how to spot the disease is available here.

To participate, visitors should post their photos of the reef to Instagram using the #SupportNEMO hashtag and include the location (GPS coordinates or dive site) and date the photo was taken. In addition to posting photos of the coral disease, visitors are also encouraged to share photos of marine pollution, as well as any wildlife they see. 

Photos contributed to the #SupportNEMO campaign will be analyzed by the NEMO Reef Response Team, a collaborative response taskforce comprised of marine scientists and conservationists from CONANP (Mexican Marine Park Authority), Healthy Reefs Initiative, and BARCO LAB. The photos will help scientists to better understand the disease and track where it’s spreading so that they can develop and test treatments, reduce pollution, identify ways to prevent the disease from spreading, and begin restoration efforts. 

$40K in 40 Days to Expand NEMO and Transform Conservation

In tandem with the #SupportNEMO campaign, Sustainable Travel International is launching an ambitious crowdfunding campaign with a goal of raising $40K in 40 days – the length of time it can take an entire coral colony to be killed by the disease. The campaign will enable people all across the globe to support the expansion of the NEMO Program by making a donation at http://bit.ly/40days4reef. Funds raised will be used to:

• Develop a NEMO citizen-science web application so that anyone can easily submit their photos and scientists can map and analyze data 
• Educate local communities about reef conservation and get more people involved in NEMO
• Fund expeditions by the Response Team to fight the disease and keep the reef healthy

For more information about the campaigns or the NEMO program as a whole, please contact [email protected] or visit SupportNEMO.com or sustainabletravel.org.

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Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Brajcich

Sustainable Travel International

[email protected]

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About Sustainable Travel International

Sustainable Travel International is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and conserving our planet’s most vulnerable destinations. We are transforming tourism’s impact on nature and people by working alongside local communities, engaging travelers and businesses in responsible practices, and strengthening destination management. Through our work, we aim to safeguard nature, combat climate change, and empower communities to preserve the integrity of destinations around the globe. To learn more visit www.sustainabletravel.org

About Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative

Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative (HRI) is a globally unique international collaborative program of coral reef-focused research, management and conservation organizations dedicated to safeguarding the Mesoamerican Reef. Our vision is to improve our scientific understanding of the functioning of the MAR, and enhance its health through management interventions. HRI has engaged over 70 key marine conservation, government, and private sector institutions, coordinating the latest scientific information into management efforts, thereby improving the collective success of all of these important conservation programs. Through our proven and effective use of the media, we are creating a more informed, powerful and dynamic stakeholder base for reef conservation in the MAR. http://www.healthyreefs.org/

About BARCO LAB

BARC LAB is a dynamic group with passionate interest in ecology and biodiversity conservation. We focus on three main areas of research: (1) describing on-going ecological shifts on reef ecosystems resulting from environmental and climate change, (2) investigating the role of ecological processes such as herbivory and coral recruitment on ecosystem dynamics, and (3) understanding the consequences of reef degradation to biodiversity and humans. We believe that one of the greatest challenges of today is biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and we are increasingly interested in providing fundamental ecological insights while producing policy-relevant science. www.barcolab.org

About CONANP

The Mexican National Protected Area Commission (CONANP) works to conserve the natural heritage of Mexico and the ecological processes of 182 Natural Protected Areas (ANP), bringing together conservation goals with goals to protect the well-being of local populations and visitors to these areas. Throughout 19 years of operation, CONANP has driven multiple conservation initiatives and strengthened the sustainable management of the biodiversity found in ANP’s. www.gob.mx/conanp

TCS Will Offset Carbon Emissions for All Trips Booked from 2019 Onward and Give Back to Destinations Around the World

SEATTLE, WA (August 14, 2019) — Award-winning luxury tour operator TCS World Travel today announces its new philanthropy strategy centered around two key pillars: sustainability and community building. The company’s main focus will be to offset its carbon footprint through a partnership with Sustainable Travel International and to make charitable contributions to the places it travels to most.

“At TCS World Travel, we make it a priority to leave a positive impact on the destinations we visit and enrich the lives of those who live there,” said TCS World Travel President Shelley Cline. “We’re committed to traveling responsibly and reducing our environmental footprint, as well as to ensuring we are helping the communities in these important destinations.”

Sustainability

To help with the carbon footprint that results from flying, TCS World Travel will offset carbon emissions for 2019 and all future trips. TCS has partnered with Sustainable Travel International,      a global non-profit organization with 15 years of experience developing successful carbon offset programs for the travel industry. Sustainable Travel International has calculated the carbon footprint of all TCS jet trips in 2019 and will purchase highly vetted carbon offsets equivalent to that amount.

The carbon offset contributions will support two carbon reduction projects in two of the destinations most frequented on TCS expeditions: Peru and Cambodia. In addition to mitigating climate change impacts, these projects enhance sustainability by protecting native ecosystems and benefiting local communities.

Madre de Dios Program: In Peru, TCS will contribute funds to this community-based project in the Peruvian Amazon that was created to protect approximately 740,000 acres of biodiverse and natural resource-rich primary rainforest. The project was also designed to safeguard the social and ecological heritage in the region through sustainable Brazil nut harvesting.

TCS’ 2019 contribution will support the protection of almost 600 acres of the project and offset 1,600 metric tons of CO2.

Water Filter Program: In Cambodia, TCS will support the Water Filter Program, which works to reduce carbon emissions by providing sustainable access to clean drinking water in rural households in Cambodia through the donation of ceramic water purifiers. This program reduces the depletion of natural resources by offering an alternative to decontamination through boiling, which uses firewood or charcoal as fuel and releases carbon into the atmosphere in the process.

The contributions from TCS will support the distribution of almost 16,000 ceramic water purifiers in addition to protecting 22 acres of forest, creating four jobs, and offsetting 3,547 metric tons of CO2.

Community Building

Through this pillar, TCS World Travel focuses on human connection among guests, employees and communities around the world. The company aims to improve the lives of people in the destinations it visits most through charitable contributions to the following organizations:

Ujenzi Charitable Trust: TCS has donated over $1.1 million to the Ujenzi Charitable Trust over the past 19 years, supporting accessible health solutions for the poor and vulnerable across more than 22 countries including Tanzania and India. Recognizing the impact that women have on the health of their families and communities, the organization invests in maternal and child projects that lead to healthier pregnancies, babies, and communities.

Contributions from TCS have supported the development of two important projects: an ultra-low-cost method to stop postpartum hemorrhaging and an ultra-low-cost breathing machine that supports newborns and children with breathing difficulties, both of which have saved countless lives and have the capacity to help millions more.

Gorilla Doctors: TCS also supports the work of The Gorilla Doctors, an organization in Rwanda dedicated to conserving wild mountain and eastern lowland gorillas through life-saving veterinary care in the wild. As the health of the gorillas is linked to that of the entire ecosystem, the Gorilla Doctors not only care for the gorillas in the field, but further protect them by supporting health programs for people living and working in and around gorilla habitat.

TCS’ donations enable regular visits by their veterinary staff to local schools to educate primary and secondary school students on conservation, hygiene and health. They also support regular training for park staff and members of park-related cooperatives on the importance and practice of good hygiene.

Currency Donations: On all trips, TCS provides guests with local currency at each destination for convenience when purchasing local souvenirs. Upon departure, they collect all leftover money to donate to carefully-vetted community projects in the area.

Annual Employee Volunteer Days

To ensure its employees feel a sense of connection and have the opportunity to give back, TCS World Travel sponsors two employee volunteer days per year where staff have the opportunity to work on projects that impact the immediate Seattle area. One day has a focus on community building and the other has a focus on sustainability, echoing TCS’ two key pillars.

For more information on TCS World Travel’s philanthropy strategy and partnership with Sustainable Travel International, please visit https://www.tcsworldtravel.com/about/philanthropy.

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About TCS World Travel

TCS World Travel leads the industry in private jet journeys with the experience and knowledge built from developing hundreds of trips for 25 years. The company excels at providing unparalleled local access and exclusive activities tailored to any travel style. Circle the globe or take a dive deep into a region on a luxury private jet expedition or embark on a luxury custom journey created especially for you to any destination in the world. For more information, visit www.tcsworldtravel.com or find TCS World Travel on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Sustainable Travel International

Sustainable Travel International is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and conserving our planet’s most vulnerable destinations. We are transforming tourism’s impact on nature and people by working alongside local communities, engaging travelers and businesses in responsible practices, and strengthening destination management. Through our work, we aim to safeguard nature, combat climate change, and empower communities to preserve the integrity of destinations around the globe. For more information, visit www.sustainabletravel.org or contact Kaitlyn Brajcich at [email protected].

 

Media Contacts

TCS World Travel

Kimi Ozawa / Elizabeth Maxim Melgoza / Ilana Dreiman

Murphy O’Brien, Inc.

(310) 453-2539

[email protected]

The new partnership will harness the power of tourism to conserve the world’s second largest reef system

CANCUN (25 June, 2019) – Today, Mexico’s National Protected Area Commission (CONANP) entered into a strategic partnership with Sustainable Travel International, a global non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the planet’s most vulnerable destinations. The partnership was formalized at the Sustainable and Social Tourism Summit in Cancun. Through this partnership, Sustainable Travel International and CONANP aim to transform reef conservation in the Mexican Caribbean by engaging tourists and local communities in monitoring, protecting, and creating awareness about the Mesoamerican Reef.

The Mesoamerican Reef is the world’s second largest reef system, stretching 600 miles along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. This immense and biodiverse ecosystem sustains the region’s tourism industry by attracting visitors, creating jobs, and protecting coastal areas from storms. Every year, more than 12 million people travel to Mexico’s Caribbean coast, many of whom participate in reef-based activities such as diving and snorkeling. In turn, the reef supports the livelihoods of nearly 2 million people and generates $6.2 billion in annual economic returns.

While tourism provides valuable economic benefits, it also places added pressure on the Mesoamerican Reef – an ecosystem that is already in a fragile state due to climate change, unsustainable fishing, and pollution. According to the 2018 Healthy Reefs report card, over half of the reef is in poor or critical condition. In June 2018, scientists discovered a rapidly spreading coral disease outbreak, known as “Síndrome Blanco,” that is killing over 20 coral species on the reef. Approximately 30% of affected coral species have already died, some of which took hundreds of years to grow.

The new partnership between CONANP and Sustainable Travel International seeks to protect the reef’s 900+ marine species from these devastating impacts and ensure the prosperity of communities that depend on the reef. Through this collaboration, Sustainable Travel International and CONANP will devise practical and innovative solutions that harness the power of Mexico’s booming tourism industry as a vehicle for reef conservation.

One such solution that is currently being piloted in the region is Sustainable Travel International’s Natural Environment Marine Observers (NEMO) program. NEMO is a citizen-science program that empowers visitors to contribute to the conservation of the Mesoamerican Reef by:

• Raising awareness about the reef and how to conserve it;
• Collecting monitoring data for marine scientists on reef health and threats; and
• Funding reef conservation expeditions by a response team comprised of CONANP, Healthy Reefs Initiative, and BARCO LAB, to eradicate threats and keep the reef healthy.

Through the NEMO program, the partnership aims to reduce human impacts on the reef and ensure long-term economic opportunity for the millions of local people who depend on it. In addition to using monitoring data to take actions that reduce contamination, eradicate coral disease, and restore ecosystem balance, the partnership will prioritize ground-up education for the many young people who will shape the future of Caribbean tourism.

“Conserving a marine destination as expansive and biodiverse as the Mesoamerican Reef is no small task. We realized that there is a tremendous untapped opportunity to engage the people who are out exploring these places in protecting them,” says Paloma Zapata, CEO of Sustainable Travel International. “Through this partnership with CONANP, that’s exactly what we aspire to do – link tourism and conservation to chart a new course for the Mesoamerican Reef.”

For more information or media inquiries about this partnership or the NEMO program, contact [email protected] or visit SupportNEMO.com.

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Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Brajcich

Sustainable Travel International

[email protected]

About Sustainable Travel International

Sustainable Travel International is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and conserving our planet’s most vulnerable destinations. We are transforming tourism’s impact on nature and people by working alongside local communities, engaging travelers and businesses in responsible practices, and strengthening destination management. Through our work, we aim to safeguard nature, combat climate change, empower communities, and tackle overtourism to preserve the integrity of destinations around the globe. To learn more visit www.sustainabletravel.org

Media Contact: [email protected]

About CONANP

 The Mexican National Protected Area Commission (CONANP) works to conserve the natural heritage of Mexico and the ecological processes of 182 Natural Protected Areas (ANP), bringing together conservation goals with goals to protect the well-being of local populations and visitors to these areas.

Natural Protected Areas are marine and land environments that host a great variety of living beings. Throughout 19 years of operation, CONANP has driven multiple conservation initiatives and strengthened the sustainable management of the biodiversity found in ANP’s.

“Tu Mejor Huella para el Paine” is a collaborative conservation campaign that aims to bring together the national and international community to restore the Base Torres trail in Torres del Paine National Park.

Torres del Paine, Magallanes, Chile (August 22, 2018) – A large-scale national and international conservation campaign was recently launched to support the long-term health of Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and declared as the 8th wonder of the world in 2013, Torres del Paine National Park is one of the most renowned destinations in Chile and Latin America. The park’s rugged Patagonian landscape featuring turquoise lakes, massive glaciers, and jutting peaks, draws visitors from all over the world. Over 260,000 travelers visited the park last year – a figure that is expected to rise by 10% annually.

The campaign, titled Tu Mejor Huella para el Paine (Your Best Footprint for Paine), aims to restore the iconic Base Torres trail, which leads to the impressive natural wonder that is the park’s centerpiece – the trio of granite spires or “Towers of Paine.” Three organizations are partnering together to promote this campaign and implement the restoration project – the Chilean National Forest Corporation (CONAF), the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund and AMA Torres del Paine.

The most popular of Torres del Paine’s trekking routes, the Base Torres trail can receive 1,000 hikers in a single day. As a result, many stretches of the trail are seriously eroded and in need of repair. The harsh Patagonian weather, characterized by frequent rain and strong winds that can reach up to 100 km/h, has only exacerbated these impacts, as have the steep grades and poor initial alignment resulting from the animals, not hikers, that first blazed the path.

In 2015, Shuswap Trail Alliance, a company specializing in the construction of sustainable trails, conducted an on-site diagnostic to evaluate trail conditions. The findings corroborated what most already knew: the Base Torres trail is in a state of serious degradation, posing a safety concern for hikers and diminishing the visitor experience while also impacting sensitive surrounding ecosystems. CONAF realizes that addressing this problem has become an urgent priority, “This campaign seeks to restore the main trail to Base Torres, which today is in a state of severe disrepair, not only due to its frequent use, but to climatic factors as well. That’s why CONAF lends its support to this initiative,” says Mauricio Vejar, CONAF Magallanes’ Regional Director.

The Tu Mejor Huella para el Paine campaign was conceived to address this challenge and build awareness in Chile around the importance of trail stewardship and national parks. The restored and newly constructed trail system will follow sustainable trail design and construction principles to ensure trail longevity, minimize environmental impacts, as well as the need for continual maintenance. The goal is to enhance the visitor experience and safety while connecting people to nature in an engaging, responsible way. This multi-stakeholder public-private initiative is a means to mobilize and unite numerous stakeholders around environmental stewardship. “This campaign will start the conversation about the role of trails and national parks by working together on one of our most iconic–one of which all Chileans should be proud,” says Mauricio Kusanovic, President of AMA Torres del Paine.

A non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing sustainability within the region, The Torres del Paine Legacy Fund is evidence to the positive environmental impact that collective stewardship efforts can create. “In the last few years, we’ve witnessed how shared stakeholder commitment can translate into tangible conservation actions that further the sustainability of the park. Tu Mejor Huella para el Paine is a prime example of this. We hope that as a result of this campaign, more visitors, citizens, and businesses from all over Chile and around the world become more involved in protecting our planet’s natural assets, particularly one as important as Torres del Paine,” says Emily Green, Legacy Fund Director.

According to Alejandra Vial, Cerveza Austral’s CRO, one of the companies supporting this initiative, “Patagonia is part of our brand’s DNA, not only because our origins are in Punta Arenas, but also because for over 120 years, we have seen and been a part of the area’s tourism development.” For Austral, the best way to support the region is to contribute to these kind of initiatives that allow visitors to continue to responsibly enjoy the wonders of Torres del Paine.

Restoring the Base Torres trail is not a simple task, which is why the campaign is looking to the national and international community for widespread support. The rebuild of the circuit comprises a 30km round trip journey and is estimated to cost about USD $1.2 million. “The Government and CONAF do a great job maintaining our trails, but the challenge here is huge and as a civil society, we can all help through small actions of giving. Today, we are already working next to CONAF and Torres del Paine Legacy Fund on this challenge, so we invite individuals, businesses, and organizations to join in the care of the 8th Wonder of the World,” Kusanovic concludes.

To learn more or make a donation to the campaign, please visit www.tumejorhuella.com. Or if you’re an international tourism business and would like to support the campaign, please contact [email protected]. Just $650 CLP or $1 USD helps rebuild one square meter of trail.

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About NGO AMA Torres del Paine

An environmental non-profit organization that operates in Torres del Paine National Park and whose mission is to conserve the natural and cultural resources of the area by supporting conservation, scientific investigation, and environmental education. www.amatorresdelpaine.org

Corporación Nacional Forestal, CONAF

An autonomous institution of the Chilean government under the Ministry of Agriculture charged with administering the state’s forest policy, driving development of the sector, combatting forest fires, and administering the country’s protected áreas. www.conaf.cl

Torres del Paine Legacy Fund

A non-profit initiative dedicated to preserving, supporting, and celebrating Torres del Paine and its surrounding communities. The Torres del Paine Legacy Fund works with the public and private sectors, fellow NGOs, visitors and residents to fund and implement local sustainability projects that advance a more sustainable future for the province of Ultima Esperanza. supporttdp.org