Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Responsible Tourism: AsiaTranspacific Journey's

Since 1987, AsiaTranspacific Journey's has set the standard for travel across Asia and the Pacific. Over the past 25 years, They have been named the most luxurious travel guides across these countries. They call it, "Journey beyond the ordinary." AsiaTranspacific Journey's connects you the traveler with the locals who know the destinations better than anyone else. AsiaTranspacific educates about the history and culture of each destination. I guess this is why they have nine reasons why we should travel with them, the next time we want to plan a trip to Asia. The nine reasons include: expertise, history, reputation, credibility, partners, support, security, peace of mind, and no regrets. The mindful travel that this provider provides is through diligent stewardship and philanthropy. According to the website, "We believe that travel can help to foster the preservation of ancient cultures, benefit local communities, and protect the environment. Long ago, our commitment to these goals was inspired by our deep connection to the regions in Asia to which we travel."

AsiaTranspacific provides a means for travel for everyone with various budgets and various destinations. Traveling to from the preferred destinations includes travel that accommodates everyone and their interests. Also with traveling, AsiaTranspacific strives for not only a better environment but a better outcome for everyone however that may be for modes of transportation and traveling. The travel specialists strive to plan the trip of your lifetime. AsiaTranspacific strives to give back to the countries and communities in which they travel. By this that includes, the economy, volunteerism and the AsiaTranspacific Foundation.

With this, I have to include in relation to natural disasters in Southeast Asia, that AsiaTranspacific Journey's and other partners administers to the non-profit foundation, AsiaTranspacific Foundation. This foundation was founded in 1998 and is funded financially by the travelers of the AsiaTranspacific Journey's themselves. This foundation is ultimately committed to providing clean water to children and families in Asia.

If you would like more information on this travel company or the non-profit foundation, you can research or contact them here at there website. http://www.asiatranspacific.com/travel-destinations/vietnam

AsiaTranspacific Journey's is an excellent illustration of the cornerstones for fair trade and responsible tourism in various capacities:

1. Fair Working Conditions: The travel to Asia  and the Pacific destinations are accessible for people to plan and book their trips online and provides small group travel or large group travel. With this, your payment is typically all inclusive from the beginning. Therefore, the traveler shouldn't need to be paying any additional costs later unless desired. The travel company also provides tour guides to assist in educating tourists of these countries.
2. Fair Prices: Depending on the amount of money the traveler would like to spend, there's different destinations for different budgets. The traveler should remember that this is traveling across the world.
3. Integration Into the Local Economy and Regional Development: The traveling across Asia and the Pacific varies depending on the desired destination. The time frame, the destination, interests, and style all depend on the desire of the traveler. This travel company makes traveling more convenient in the way of the trip is planned and expenses are all inclusive, as previously mentioned.
4. Fair Trade Partnerships Between All Actors in Tourism: Since the traveler provides the payment when booking the trip, everything such as travel, shuttling, hotels, meals, and even sometimes trip insurance is all inclusive. Anything extra such as souvenir's, the traveler would have to purchase on their own. Once arriving at the destination, the traveler's are greeted by the locals in which they are further knowledgeable than anyone else.
5. Sustainable Resource Use and Environmental Justice: The traveling between close locations uses private vehicles but more importantly, watercraft that less pollutes the environment. This travel company uses it's resources in connection to traveling to the safest parts of these countries and receiving the utmost best experiences for it's travelers with regards to resource and environmental usage.

I believe that this travel company emphasizes cornerstone number three, integration into the local economy and regional development. Meaning with this, the travel company provides an economical way of transport for travelers but also gives back which ultimately improves the economy of these countries. By providing a means of travel and being all inclusive, travelers are more ideal to spending their extra money in places in which actually could benefit the economy and the people there but also the traveler themselves.

In the end, I believe it's extremely important that we give back, and this travel company does that. If we all do our part and give just a little (or as much as you want or can), the world can change. The world itself  can change to a more giving, respected, responsible and fair trade planet. With this, humankind would be changed for the better. So think about the next time you travel or even something as simple as purchasing an item, wherever that may be. Does it fall under the fair trade commodities listed above? And do you care? Because you should.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The BEST Society- An Ecotourism Organization

An organization that is greatly impacting Southeast Asia's ecotourism is the Borneo Ecotourism Solutions & Technologies (BEST) Society. The BEST Society is a non profit organization that focuses on "environmental conservation programs and capacity building of local communities in rural areas of Sabah, north Borneo. BEST Society’s main objectives include promoting a sustainable tourism concept which creates employment and nurtures social entrepreneurship skills for the local community."

Some of the recent projects of BEST include:
Sakau Medical Camp-2012
Mangrove Action Day in Kimihang, Kudat-July 2012
Bengkoka Living Water Project-September 2012
Bonco Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO): A Community Project in Sabah, North of Borneo-October 2012

The BEST organization has one main vision, to improve human life. In relation to the Southeast Asia's natural disasters, BEST strives to promote, provide, improve and act to progress the society and cultivation around Southeast Asia. According to there website, BEST believes that "we all live on the same planet and that it's our responsibility to protect and keep it green."

This organization plays an active role in conserving the natural resources necessary for visitors of Southeast Asia. I believe it greatly promotes moral and ethical responsibilities and behaviors towards the natural and cultural environment. Some benefits from this organization could include conservation, economic, cultural, and social, to name a few. After reading this article and doing research on the BEST website, I believe it encourages more of doing our part and keeping the world greener.

For more information, you can check out the article on Educating Tomorrow's Community Leaders in the Rainforests of Kinabatangan here at http://www.ecotourism.org/news/best-society-educating-tomorrows-community-leaders-rainforests-kinabatangan.



Citation for BEST: http://www.bestsociety.org/online/index.php

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Introduction to Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia consists of eleven countries, which is located north of Australia, east of India, south of China and west of New Guinea. With an estimated population of 442,500,000, the Muslim culture is primarily dominant over the country along with other cultures such as the Chinese. Out of all of the languages in the world, Southeast Asia has approximately a thousand languages spoken in the country alone. It’s also noteworthy to state that the region gained their independence following World War II. Southeast Asia is mostly covered with tropical forests that also consists of wet monsoon winds that aid in the country’s economy. Roughly more than ¾ of the Southeast Asia population is agriculture-based. Rice is their main crop with coconuts, spices and rubber, which are also important. Some say that twice as much fish is consumed in Southeast Asia compared to other forms of protein. Now in relation to the natural disasters in Southeast Asia, according to reports, "Fewer people died from natural disasters in Asia in 2012 than in previous years. Now comes the bad news: between January and October, natural disasters in Asia still claimed more lives here than anywhere else in the world – and experts predict the trend will continue as populations and industries expand in a region that already houses the world’s largest number of urban residents." Southeast Asia not only has an impact in the economy around the world but also a vast impact in agriculture, culture and populations.
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201204/s3481101.htm
Reference: http://www.asianscientistasias-2012-figures-trends/