WHAT’S IN YOUR SUITCASE?
On October 27, 20 groups, including TIES, the UN Foundation and the Rainforest Alliance, released a new standard for the term "sustainable tourism." A draft of the criteria, posted at http://www.sustainabletourism criteria.org, mandates that sustainable-travel companies maximize benefits to the local population and culture through their businesses and take steps to remain carbon-neutral. "The challenge with the word 'green' is it tends to be limited only to environmental aspects of travel," says Ronald Sanabria of Rainforest Alliance. To Kate Dodson, deputy director of sustainable development at the UN Foundation, a trip to Washington, D.C., would be sustainable if one patronized local businesses, including farmers markets and craft boutiques, stayed at an energy-efficient hotel that took steps to benefit the local community, took public transit and went for a hike at Rock Creek Park. By Anna Kuchment | NEWSWEEK, Jul 12, 2008
READ MORE AT http://www.newsweek.com/id/145868
READ MORE AT http://www.newsweek.com/id/145868