by Randy Durband on July 22, 2010
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…]
by Randy Durband on June 29, 2010
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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by Robin Tauck on June 29, 2010
For the first time ever, the World Bank in Washington DC hosted the annual US/ICOMOS meeting– showcasing the importance of global preservation to our nation’s people and capitol.
Randy and I were honored to be asked to speak on the “Power of Travel,” a major message for economic development in emerging nations and for public/private partnerships … a keynote of the three-day Conference. Over 150 people attended; World Bank representatives from major areas came to “listen and learn” — all recognize Cultural Heritage is growing. It was fascinating– held in the huge board room with over 60% attendees from abroad. Our nation even hosted the World Bank –IMF Chorus in the atrium lobby. [click to continue…]
by Randy Durband on May 24, 2010
PATA’s Sustainable Tourism Committee’s most recent meeting took place April 25th during the conference in Kuching, Malaysia that included the organization’s annual meeting. The Malaysian state of Sarawak on Borneo hosted the event at their new and very sophisticated convention center.
The committee is small but passionate and engaged, and the leadership of the important 59-year old trade group is serious about supporting sustainable tourism development and initiatives. The conference itself involved walking the talk in an environmentally-friendly manner, avoiding single-use plastic water bottles and other appropriate actions.
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by Robin Tauck on April 13, 2010
Now is such an opportunistic time in history to “make a difference” by joining together in key environmental actions. Why wait? I have learned from the Marriott Corporation and am personally glad to help a major environmental project – the Juma Amazonas Brazilian Reserve; one of 14 huge reserves in the Amazon. The plan is surely a “wow.”
It all began back in 2008, when Marriott went forth in protecting 1.4 million acres of arguably the world’s most important rainforest. I learned of the plan from Bill Marriott himself at WTTC Dubai and Brazil. They have 3,500 hotels globally and have a multitude of internal and external efforts to address environmental and social impacts. [click to continue…]
by Randy Durband on April 7, 2010
A growing trend in travel is what we call “Travelers Philanthropy” whereby tour operators and other travel providers make it easy for their customers, their employees, and their company’s “giving back” team to support worthy causes.
Web tools describe carefully screened causes, ranging from supporting elephant orphanages to rain-forest protection to child education and welfare. Those wishing to contribute can pay online – either before, during, or after their travel experience.
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by Randy Durband on February 25, 2010
UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre is embarking on a new approach to destination management. Rather than managing each heritage site in isolation, they are now coordinating the planning for multiple sites within a given region to gain a holistic tourism management plan. The goal is to ensure more balanced visitation patterns, better protection of sites, and the opening of new and authentic, heritage-based activities.
I’ve just returned from the Quang Nam Province of Vietnam, where I was invited by the World Heritage Centre to join a workshop arranged to launch a [click to continue…]
by Randy Durband on January 4, 2010
Does it seem that the number of unique and authentic places to visit in the world is shrinking? The standardization of destinations caused by globalization certainly contributes to that, as does your own increasing number of checkmarks on your life travel list. But, consider this: proper conservation efforts continue to open up new sites to tourists and expand offerings within existing sites.
In Tikal, the great Mayan city in present-day Guatemala, only a few of the finest sites have been excavated. In Mesa Verde National Park scrub-clearing wildfires earlier this decade unearthed scores of previously unknown archeological ruins. In the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang on the Silk Road in China, where I recently visited, visitors take in only a few of 100 sites that are open to the public, and hundreds remain unopened. When visiting the Valleys of Kings, Queens, and Nobles in Egypt, the most avid visitor only has the energy and time to see a half dozen of the scores of thrilling tombs per day’s visit, so return visits are needed, and more sites are discovered every few years.
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by Robin Tauck on December 29, 2009
What an honor…to be at the Copenhagen Climate Summit on behalf of the tour and travel industry! Tour & Travel is the largest industry in the world and was a late approval for a “special side event” with presentations and press at the Bella Center on December 18th.
About 50 leaders from travel arrived for presentations via WTTC and WTO -World Tourism Organization and included some major airlines, global hotel chains, ministers of major tourism destinations and more. There was a serious and evident show of strategic, professional climate crisis plans, investments, cooperation and urgency. [click to continue…]
by Robin Tauck on December 7, 2009
One never forgets their first visit to Petra. The Nabatean Archaeological Wonder is located in Southern Jordan amidst vast deserts and is considered one of the iconic World Heritage Sites. It is a must-see on every travelers list to the Middle East.
I have been fortunate to see Petra over ten times – and each visit is awesome and unique-for the season and the environment are in constant change, with new discoveries still unfolding.
My first visits were in the 1990’s while setting up Tauck’s tours – taking in the sights on foot and by camel, and returning often in horse-drawn carriages. Not much change in that regard. What has changed, today, is the enormous barrage of foot and animal traffic now in Petra. Where once only a few hundred visitors walked in awe, today there are often over 3,000 visitors a day. The issue is getting worse.
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