I have great news for 2012. In a lifetime of attending and receiving some of travel and tourism’s most prestigious awards, it is with great pleasure that we have chosen to sponsor the (WTTC) World Travel and Tourism Council’s 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow’s Destination Stewardship Award. [click to continue…]
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It’s official ! Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Sacred Valley of Peru will be the site for the first Global Outreach program of Tourism Cares. The mission was unanimously voted by the Board to be supported by key member companies of the non-profit organization since 1998.
For two years, it has been my real pleasure to work as Vice Chair alongside many of travel and tourism’s leaders in the development of Global Outreach’s innovative vision; aimed at taking the American travel industry abroad to collaborate in key areas for sustainability at some of the world’s greatest treasures.
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As an active member of the International Cultural Tourism Committee (ICTC) – one of some 20 committees within the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) – I just participated in its highly informative three-day workshop at two phenomenal French sites. [click to continue…]
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Angkor Wat deserves a firm place high on the must-see list of all world travelers. You can’t beat it for the enormity and quality of the archaeological sites of the ancient Khmer civilization.
But there are so many more Khmer sites to see. We’ve blogged before about Banteay Chhmar in Cambodia, where our friends at the Global Heritage Fund take the lead in restoring and preserving the site.
Interested in learning more about what is available, I recently visited three major Khmer sites — in Thailand and not in Cambodia. Travel east from Bangkok by car or rail, a direction few international visitors choose, get close to Cambodia, and you’ll find some outstanding archaeological sites. [click to continue…]
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We’ve mentioned ICOMOS in past blog entries and on our website. ICOMOS is the International Council for Monuments and Sites, which is the official advisory body to UNESCO and the World Heritage committees on matters pertaining to cultural heritage.
Robin and I have become very involved in ICOMOS. A part of our mission at “Robin Tauck & Partners” is to create linkages between the Travel & Tourism industry with public (government, NGOs, and non-profit) entities that work in sustainable tourism in general and more specifically in destination stewardship. ICOMOS and UNESCO are vital members of the public sector in this realm. Robin is now a member of the board of the US chapter of ICOMOS, and I actively participate in its International Cultural Tourism Committee.
We have given several presentations to the Travel & Tourism industry on their activities – and remain happily willing and available to do more — and have provided a private tourism sector perspective when interacting with them.
The annual meeting of the US chapter is coming up soon. We encourage you to join ICOMOS and attend the annual event, in Washington DC June 2-4. Information is available at http://www.usicomos.org/symposium
We hope to see you there!
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On a clear, blue sky day reminiscent of September 11, 2001, little could prepare us for our “insider’s experience” at Ground Zero — an opportunity given only to a few individuals, due to the challenging safety environs and advance security permissions. On this day– December 8, 2010 — our group from travel and tourism was invited to visit.
The 9/11 Museum Memorial is a full 8 acres of the 16 acre site; a gold standard, sustainable LEEDS construction of 110,000 square feet. Accommodating 5 million visitors per year; it will be one of New York’s most visited – akin to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural History. Here the purpose and design — is to bring together “people” to tell the stories, restore hope and shape a positive future. [click to continue…]
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Whatever you know about Mayan Civilization – from your personal travels, readings, movie-watching, whatever – you’re about to learn something new!
Why so bold a statement? During a recent trip to Guatemala, I was guided by the long-time chief archaeologist at a site that was far grander in scope — and significance – than the well-known sites of Tikal, Chichen Itza, or Palenque. He taught me of discoveries that haven’t even made it into the pages of archaeological journeys, to say nothing of guide books and travel magazines.
This Mayan lost civilization is in El Mirador Basin, a large oval naturally ringed by hills, half in modern-day Mexico and half in Guatemala. The archaeologist, Dr. Richard Hansen, has personally explored 51 cities within El Mirador Basin, and suspects there are even more to be found. I spent three incredible days with him exploring the city within the basin, known by the same name, El Mirador. The visit was sponsored by the Global Heritage Fund (www.globalheritagefund.org) which is providing needed support to the important work underway there.
The amazing story is not one story, but several: [click to continue…]
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PATA’s Sustainability Committee is on the move. In September I attended the semi-annual committee meeting; this one held in Macau following PATA’s Travel Mart. (PATA is the Pacific Asia Travel Association)
The committee members are leaders in travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific and are passionate and knowledgeable about sustainable travel. [click to continue…]
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I’ve recently returned from a fascinating 10-day research trip to Cuba. I went there to write a case study for a project I’m involved in whose goal is to advise tourism planners about balancing the needs of historic preservation with those of tourism development. Our small team visited five out of Cuba’s nine World Heritage sites, focusing on the five that are cultural heritage sites in urban settings.
We came away realizing that there is a real need in Cuba to develop a comprehensive 
tourism management plan for cultural tourism. Having banned tourism after experiencing the negative consequences of prostitution and gambling during the period leading up to the revolution (the reaction to which, in fact, contributed to the success of the revolution), Cuba re-introduced tourism in 1993 following the collapse of the Soviet-led trading block, upon which its economy had become dependent. The plan began with beach tourism, developing the Varadero Beach area to meet international standards. [click to continue…]
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The International Cultural Tourism (ICTC) of ICOMOS just welcomed me to their ranks. ICOMOS is the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the official advisory body to UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre on matters pertaining to cultural heritage. The ICTC committee supports ICOMOS’ mission by supplying it with expertise on tourism to cultural heritage sites.
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"Twenty years from now, you may be more disappointed by the things you didn't do...than the things you did do.
So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the Wind in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover."
-Mark Twain
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