In July 2007, I had the honor to conduct research for my graduate dissertation on ecotourism development in the proposed UNESCO site of the Kikori River Basin, Papua New Guinea (PNG). The sponsor for my research was the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), one of the most influential conservation organizations spanning the globe.

“What ‘country’ are we visiting today?” was my daily question for the WWF staff. A large part of conducting the ecotourism assessment involved conducting interviews and informative sessions for the villagers residing in the Kikori River Basin. Papua New Guinea (PNG) is considered the most culturally diverse country in the world, and after my time there, I clearly understand the validity of this statement.

Over 800 languages are spoken in PNG, with Pidgin/Tok Pisin as the national language that unites the tribes by providing a way to communicate with each other. It is very common for a New Guinean to speak several languages, those of their parents’ tribes and Tok Pisin. However, it is not uncommon when traveling to the most remote areas, to encounter people who don’t even speak the national Tok Pisin language. WWF took that into consideration so I was often accompanied by more than two staff, depending on the languages they were able to translate. Therefore, everyday that we prepared to visit a new village, I prepared myself as one would in visiting a new country. From the Foi and Fasu around Lake Kutubu, Huli in the Southern Highlands Province, to the groups in the Kikori and Mt. Bosavi regions, all tribes speak their own language and have their own customs. So, each day we truly did visit a ‘new country’.

The land of PNG is just as remarkable as the inhabitants of the country. In addition to the cultural significance, the high level of endemic species and biological diversity are reasons why the Kikori River Basin is currently under consideration for becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To provide a picture on the extreme diversity, let me recount one incident during my visit.

Wassi Falls is considered a famous attraction within PNG, and rightly so it is a phenomenal site to behold. The waterfall is located near Kantobo Village, the community of the Muti (lower Foi) tribe. Residing in one of the 11 areas of high biodiversity of the WWF’s Kikori River Programme (KRP), the potential in discovering new species is a prevalent aspect. Surprisingly, not many locals have visited Wassi Falls, much less a foreign woman. That day, I was accompanied by the WWF staff, landowner of the Wassi Falls area and about 4 men from nearby Kantobo. The landowner bushwhacked a trail for us through the forest with his machete. After an adventurous and fast-paced trek through the forest, balancing on logs, jumping limestone crevasses and scaling muddy vertical slopes - we arrived to the point overlooking Wassi Falls. We marveled in the wondrous sight as we sat on the vegetation-covered overhang, providing barely enough space for all of us to fit. During our rest, a small yellow frog appeared and began hopping around. The WWF staff excitedly told us to catch the frog, as his instinctual first-impression indicated that this frog could be a new species. The delicate frog was finally caught, and taken by the staff to assess its classification upon returning to the office.

This small occurrence resonated with me, exemplifying that a vast amount of the natural world is still ‘unknown’ to us despite all our technological advances. Just another of the endless messages to the human race, about the fragility of the Earth’s ecosystems and that we have to take immediate action to protect our home and all life.

**All photos in slideshow by Rosalyn Salters and Tanya Lake.

“In this era of stiff international competition we have to become productive and competitive if we are to prosper as a nation. An expanding pool of skilled labour in our country will also attract both domestic and foreign investment.

Being with you tonight is a way of reaffirming government’s commitment to education. That commitment is based on the knowledge that without human resource development, there can be no serious reconstruction and development of South Africa.

Our youth is our future. Whether our country will rise from the ashes of apartheid to become one of the world’s success stories will to a large extent depend on what we invest in educating and training our youth.” - excerpts from a speech President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela made in February 1997 at Damelin Business College, Johannesburg, South Africa (Taken from Terrawatu’s 27th issue newsletter).

No matter what country you are from, the wise words of President Mandela reverberate with truth for the entire human race. So often, we get caught up in focusing on the ‘issues’ that we fail to acknowledge all the amazing work that is being done around the world. Two organizations that provide the inspiration for this entry are Global Exchange in San Francisco, CA and Terrawatu in Arusha, Tanzania.

In July 2006, I was sent as a Global Exchange (GX) delegate on their Tanzania Reality Tour. Global Exchange is an awe-inspiring, ‘international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world’. GX Reality Tours provide visitors a way to travel the world but gain a more personal, authentic and interactive experience with the host communities they visit.

Global Exchange’s partner organization, Terrawatu, was founded on the premise of uniting indigenous knowledge with the modern technological world. Through this methodology, they have empowered Tanzanians with education and resources to maintain their culture while utilizing technological advances. Some of their numerous projects include; medicinal plants, tree planting network, sustainable tourism, and projects for children and education.

Numerous companies exist that provide cultural-based, luxury, safari, a plethora of trips to Tanzania. However, what sets GX and Terrawatu’s trip apart from the rest is HOW you get to experience the culture and wildlife. You stay at a diverse range of locally-owned establishments from large lodges to traditional-style guest houses. As a tourist, you aren’t confined to just interact with the tour group or only with locals as you barter for souvenirs. The group is taken to numerous schools, traditional healing clinics, conservation sites, safaris, and various Maasai villages. With the help of translators, cultural gaps are bridged by socializing, dancing, eating and conversing about cultural differences during village visits. You really leave the country feeling a sense of connectedness and a greater understanding about life for our Tanzanian rafiki (friends). GX and Terrawatu truly provide responsible, authentic and sustainable tours.

Of course, numerous stories and personal accounts can be shared at more depth, but to best sum it up, view the video Tanzania Reality Tour by Rosalyn Salters & Andres Acosta

Thanks to the advances of technology, companies today have the ability to reach people of any background and spanning every corner of the world. However, in 1888 when National Geographic was founded, this was an anomaly which resulted in landmark philanthropic and conservation-based work. Now 120 years later, the exploration of the world has and continues to expand into one of the most prolific global industries.

Additionally, the film industry has expanded from niche to mainstream with the proliferation of travel programs broadcasted on public and private television. Feature films, documentaries and promotional travel videos showcase everything from top destinations and cruises to the misnomer of  ‘undiscovered and exotic’ regions. However, the plethora of films, media and television shows make it difficult for the viewer to discern the authenticity of the information. The inaccurate propaganda only fuels the negative impacts tourism has on the host countries’ people and environment.

In 1990, the Toura D’or film contest was implemented by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Studienkreis (Study Institute for Tourism and Development). The purpose of the contest is to enhance the quality of travel-based film and television, through accurate representations of sustainable and responsible tourism. This encourages producers, film makers and agents to follow the Toura D’or criteria in order to instill change and awareness amongst the viewers. By including the film and media sector in supporting sustainable tourism, this ensures criteria is met in the communication phase of the tourism lifecycle. Just as National Geographic has inspired our lives by reconnecting cultures with nature, Toura D’or will continue to influence change towards a sustainable and more holistic way to travel.

In the deserts of Abu Dhabi, a manifestation is occurring that is not a mirage. Sultan Al Jaber is building Masdar, a 2.3 square mile ‘world center for future energy solutions.’ The Masdar Initiative was launched in April 2006 to tackle issues pertaining to energy security, climate change and sustainable development. According to Fortune 500, the city is financed with $15 billion in oil money and the intention to profit from sustainable applications. The zero-carbon, zero-waste, automobile-free city will showcase sustainable urban development including green building, renewable energy and advanced recycling. However, creating a green city is an unprecedented undertaking, and involves the skills of London architects Foster and Partners and Colorado engineering firm CH2M Hill in the process. To date, Masdar’s achievements reflect the success of the project, exemplified by recent recognition as “Cleantech Leader of the Year” at the Cleantech Awards held in February 2008 in San Francisco, California. Masdar appears to be on track towards attaining their long-term goals in alternative energy and sustainable technologies for the next 50 years.

Omran, a government-owned company, was created for the sole purpose of expanding tourism and infrastructure development in Oman. Omran participated in the Urban Land Institute’s global real estate conference, held on February 13, 2008 in Dubai, that focused on “Building a Sustainable Future: Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges.” The presentation by Omran CEO, Wael Al Lawati, reflected their, “deep commitment to sustainable tourism whilst preserving the environment and natural sanctuaries in the Sultanate. By embracing all segments of the industry with the development of guidelines and criteria that seek to reduce environmental impacts, particularly the use of non-renewable resources, in addition to measurable benchmarks, we can improve tourism’s contribution to the national economy and sustainable development.” As an emerging industry, tourism is expected to grow steadily on account of the country’s cultural heritage, natural attributes and modern metropolis. Additionally, the Arabian Peninsula exhibits growing awareness and interest from the international community, most notably from the thriving tourism sector in neighboring Dubai, United Arab Emirates. As noted in case studies worldwide, effective sustainable tourism development occurs with government participation. The Oman government’s vested interest in the industry indicates strategic and positive progression towards sustainability. This is an upcoming region in sustainable tourism worth keeping an eye on!

Country highlights:

• Location: Located in the SE corner of the Arabian Peninsula and is bordered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Yemen, the Strait of I Hormuz and Arabian Sea.

• Major cities: Muscat (capital), Nizwa and Sohar

• Economy: Finance, oil and gas, trade, agriculture, livestock, mineral and water resource sectors

• Wildlife: Oman is home to indigenous animals such as the Arabian leopard and the Arabian Oryx, both of which are classified as endangered species. Across the Sultanate, nature reserves have been established to protect habitats and other mammals including the leopard, gazelle, taher, ibex, desert foxes and wild cats.

• Birds: Approximately 400 species of birds (i.e. Nightjar and White Stork)

• Marine life - 22 whale and dolphin species; exotic fish and coral are prevalent particularly near Ras al-Jinz, Hallaniyat Islands and the Dimaaniyat Islands

• Cultural heritage sites: Numerous forts and castles such as; Al Hazm Castle, the country’s most famous Forts of Jalali and Mirani, UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bahla Fort and Jabrin Fort

• Culture: Roots derives from Ibadhism, a form of the Islamic religion; famous for purebred Arab horses; traditional folk songs and dances performed at festivals (such as the Omani Song Festival); traditional Dhow and other sailing vessels.

As an avid world traveler, I always feel guilty about the emissions I contribute to the global warming epidemic. Should I forego all travel to visit family and explore new locations just for the sake of the planet? A logical option yet is not feasible for the majority of the planet’s inhabitants today. Despite being able to contribute to various carbon offset schemes like Climate Care and Carbonfund, I still feel I haven’t done enough to lessen my carbon footprint. The truth remains that there comes a point when consumers can only do so much. A vast portion of the responsibility lies with the companies providing the travel services. Over the past few years, many corporations have acknowledged their impact on the environment and are implementing strategies to reduce their carbon footprint.

This past Sunday, a landmark achievement in aviation occurred from a successful demonstration flight of the world’s first biofuel-powered commercial aircraft. The non-passenger Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 flew from London Heathrow Airport to Amsterdam, signifying epic accomplishments in ‘carbon-free’ flying. According to Virgin Atlantic, the fuel used in one of the plane’s main tanks constituted 20% biofuel mix of coconut and babassu oil resulting in a 30% decrease in fuel consumption. Additionally, the production of the biofuel is reported not to compete with food and freshwater resources. However, the full extent of the environmental impact of the biofuel production (carbon emissions, food shortage) is not known at this time but is an area of concern from various campaigners.

Virgin founder, Richard Branson, has set the goal of becoming the ‘greenest airline in the market’ and has expanded on this vision to include green ground transportation. In the United States, Virgin has partnered with General Motors Corporation to provide green limo service (from zero-emission fuel cell cars) for VIP passengers. Sustainable transportation has been the company’s focus since 2007 including accomplishments such as; a six-month trial commenced in June 2007 of Britain’s first biodiesel train, Virgin Voyager, developing a company Green Policy that further reduces the trains’ carbon footprint through renewable electricity, recycling and serving Fair Trade products onboard.

In an ideal world, all leisure and business travel would entail zero-emission transportation - by air, land and sea. The recent technological advances instill a bit of hope that we are progressing towards the quintessence of sustainable travel.

Present day San Francisco has altered dramatically since the time of the Ohlones. The landscape, climate, wildlife, residents and way of life have dramatically transformed to the metropolis we know today.

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Today, many of the birds and animals from the time of the Ohlones are no longer present while other species have diminished in number. Suisun Marsh and a few other wetlands are the only remnants of the abundant swamp-life that once existed in the Bay Area. Even the animals’ behavior has changed from fearless of the early European explorers to present-day aversion of human contact. Many of the native plants and animals have been replaced by invasive species. Scotch broom is an example of an invader that has aggressively taken over native habitats and is causing environmental, health and economic harm. The NRDC states, “the San Francisco Bay-Delta is the most invaded aquatic ecosystem in North America, and may be the most invaded estuary in the world.”

The altered landscape is most evident by the manmade metropolis that now covers what, at one time, was a vast expanse of untouched land. However, in comparison with green areas in other cities, San Francisco prides itself on an abundance of parks and open space. The ‘green network’ includes; Golden Gate Park which spans 1000 acres, the 991 acres of open space in the Presidio, over 1 million acres of protected open space in the surrounding Greenbelt and many other sites.

The homogenous Ohlone have been replaced with a plethora of cultures spanning from all continents of the world. Currently, residents of American Indian or Alaska Native descent constitute 0.6% of the City’s population and own 0.5% of the businesses. Tribal groups representative in and surrounding the Bay Area include Ohlone, Miwok, Yokuts, Maidu, Wintun, Pomo, Wappo and those of other tribal affiliations that have relocated to the region. The ethnic and cultural diversity of San Francisco also includes; Chinese, Hispanic, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Croatian-American, African-American, Lesbian/Bi/Gay, and many more. The professional and economic diversity is as diverse as the residents. While modern-times no longer mandate hunting and gathering, the professions of San Franciscans range in variety including the arts, medicine, education, finance, medical science, technology and tourism.

I attended this event at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, CA on February 13, 2008. The event was arranged by the German American Business Association of California (GABA), Lufthansa and the MIT Alumni Club. It was informative and encouraging to learn about sustainable business practices at Google, PG&E, Lufthansa and BMW. Measuring the scale and accountability of each company’s practices is not my intention in this post - just merely to share highlights of the discussion.

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The panel discussion commenced with Jasmin Ansar, PG&E’s Manager of Environmental Policy. A focus of the discussion concerned the mixed views prevalent in society about the profitability of corporate social responsibility (CSR) versus conventional policies. Ansar indicated that the electric sector is responsible for 30-40% of greenhouse gas emissions (ghg) on the national level. Therefore, PG&E’s policy reflects their obligation to sustainability because “in the long-term, it’s the only way to go.” Besides diminishing the corporation’s environmental impact, CSR has provided other benefits for the company such as: enhanced learning, improved strategic thinking, and builds trust, confidence and partnerships. An example of the Environmental Justice Policy entails limiting pollution levels in communities by the Port of Oakland. In hopes of reducing the level of harmful pollutants contributing to asthma and other health issues in the area, PG&E converted the fleet diesel trucks to liquefied natural gas.

The discourse was followed by Carleen Goeckel, Lufthansa’s Regional Sales Manager. The focus of the presentation pertained to Lufthansa balancing their goals of global expansion in a sustainable manner. To maintain balance and meet their goals, the Lufthansa approach entails ‘leadership and vision’. The company developed an Environmental Concepts Department in 1996 that has contributed to the accomplishments and goals. A few are highlighted below and are covered more in depth in the Sustainability Report Balance 2007:

• Goals to reduce CO2 emissions by 33% this year and by 38% by the year 2012.
• Utilization of intelligent mobility concepts that combines air and rail transportation in Germany and other European locations.
• Technological progress include; investments in €12 billion in alternative fuels for aircraft, usage of an the alternative fuel-operated AirBus 380 in the United States by the year 2009 and future services from the Boeing 747-8 model.
• Inclusion of the carbon offset program myclimate.org
• Improved infrastructure and more efficient use of air space (SES) has resulted in 132,000 tons of fuel saved per year in reducing taxiing and delays at Frankfurt Airport.

The next presenter, Rob Passaro with the BMW Group, emphasized the importance of the company maintaining sustainable standards due to the sector’s inherent role as a greenhouse gas emitter. The company’s corporate responsibility is reflective by their commitment to the principles of the 2001 UN Global Compact (which pertains to human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption). As Pasarro states, “sustainability is as important as the company’s annual financial disclosures because it affects the ability to maintain the business.” BMW’s track record has proven sustainability can yield economic success. The BMW Sustainable Value Report, “allows expressing and managing sustainability performance in monetary terms. It is the first approach worldwide to follow a value-oriented logic using opportunity costs.”

Abiding by the sustainable policies, BWM continues to excel in producing ecologically-efficient products.

• Enhancements to conventional valve trains (Valvetronic, High Precision Injection)
• Lightweight construction from thermoplastics enhances fuel efficiency and improves the car handling.
• Efficient Dynamics implemented in all products to reduce fuel usage, tire resistance, etc.
• Provide free car recycling services in Europe
• Working towards their Clean Energy Strategy for long-term hydrogen vehicles.
• Collaborative work with Chrysler and General Motors in hydrogen trains, which will be launched in 2009.

The panel discussion concluded with Google’s Green Energy Czar, Bill Weihl. The presentation entitled “Green at Google: Why and What?” highlighted the company’s sustainable practices. In relation to the prior panelists, Google’s sustainable practices are relatively new with the inception of the Green Strategy Group in 2005. The focus of the Group is to research and deploy high performing technologies that can make a difference. In such a short amount of time, the company’s achievements are vast and impressive.

• Utilize energy efficient computers, (the typical desktop wastes 50% of its energy), which saves the company immensely in costs.
• Installed 1.6mw of solar panels at the Google campus, which will pay itself off within about seven years and will offset the installation expense.
• Food provided oncampus is organic and locally grown within a 150 mile radius
• The private transit system of bio-diesel powered shuttles is serviced by 1500 employees per day
• Free bikes provided to staff in European locations.
• The RechargeIT project of the Google Foundation converts hybrid cars into plug-in hybrids, which has already demonstrated 50-100% improvement in gas mileage.
• As Weihl states, “Renewable energy is cheaper than coal in California.” In 2006, Google started tracking their ecological footprint and by 2007 were carbon neutral. Their Clean Energy Goal is to operate on 50mw of renewable energy by the year 2012.

Notable QuotesBill Weihl, Google

• “I worry what we are doing today is not enough.”

• “We can’t offset or conserve our way out of climate change but offsets can slow the process down and buy more time to come up with technology to get rid of emissions.”

• “Sustainability is a trade off of short-term costs vs. long-term investments. In the long-term, the investments will pay off with economic growth required for continuing sustainability.”

Rob Passaro, BMW Group

• “Vote with your dollar, don’t buy inefficient cars.”

• “If society is affected by negative environmental problems, this directly affects BMW’s business.”

• “The risk of not doing anything (about sustainable issues) means failing in the market.”

Carleen Goeckel, Lufthansa

• “Being sustainable is an economic incentive for Lufthansa. The airline industry is difficult in terms of continuous increases in fuel and CO2 emissions. To be competitive in the industry requires fuel efficient operations.”

My Know How:

Public panel discussions always allow community members a chance to engage with the experts by voicing their comments and questions. Suffice to say, some opposition (by Green Guerrillas Against Greenwash GGAG) was directed to PG&E about their “sustainable practices.” On a whole however, all of the public comments pertained to a deep level of concern about the sustainability of California’s resources.

In relation to urban sustainable tourism, each company is either a direct or indirect stakeholder in San Francisco’s tourism industry. As a major airline, Lufthansa services San Francisco International Airport bringing tourists from domestic and international locations. The sustainability of airline operations is vital in reducing emissions and mitigating climate change impacts. As the primary power company in San Francisco, PG&E’s impact spans across every tourism stakeholder category (hotels, restaurants, stores, etc.). Diminishing the City’s tourism-derived energy consumption and emissions is largely dependent on the sustainability of this company. As a high-end company, BMW is a preferred mode of transportation (rental services) for business and middle to upper class leisure travelers. Eco-efficient vehicles not only decrease emission levels, but also promote the economic viability of sustainable businesses. Google dominates the search engine industry and is utilized by tourists for researching about San Francisco’s attractions, activities, and options for trip planning. As a global entity, the online services can promote, generate awareness and provide education about sustainable tourism practices in San Francisco. Although not intended to be an event about sustainable tourism, the correlation between panelists and the travel industry was evident. This is just another example of how the sustainability of all companies across the economic spectrum impact tourism.