I recently received an e-mail from the Rainforest Alliance, and since it was a nice summary of sustainable and eco-travel information from the alliance as well as National Geographic, I thought I’d share it.
In it, there is a lot of information about sustainability, eco-tourism and tourism worldwide (in general) — I liked how the Rainforest Alliance organized it for easy reference and for its reputable information.
If you are looking for education about sustainable/eco-travel and a good outline on how a locale is certified “sustainable,” the Rainforest Alliance site is a good place to start. They post good information that they’ve well-researched and written about. The National Geographic presents a combination of information about eco-tourism and where/how to eco-travel through several external websites.
The Rainforest Alliance is pleased to promote a fantastic new resource for conscientious travelers: an 85-page, full-color catalog of certified sustainable tourism operations in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala and the Caribbean. Available for download.
All of the 141 hotels, restaurants and tour operators featured in the guide are certified by the Sustainable Tourism Network of the Americas for their environmentally and socially responsible practices. Range of options include: the 4-room, family-run Hotel Sabana in Costa Rica to the 223-room internationally renowned Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa in Jamaica — and everything in between.
The Eco-Index of Sustainable Tourism is a searchable database of tourism businesses that have been deemed environmentally and socially responsible by reputable environmental organizations or eco-tourism certifiers. It helps travelers to choose destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean where their trips will benefit the communities and landscapes they hope to experience.
The National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Destinations is also a good place to read up on eco-travel. It includes photos, articles, and video. Additionally, there are links to online resources for the individual traveller, including: Multi-purpose Sites, Eco-tours (Nature-oriented Travel), Culture and Heritage Travel, and Transportation.
