Sustainable tourism is the idea of developing tourism in a way in which it does not damage the environment, nor the economy, or the wellbeing of local cultures. The goal of sustainable tourism is to please all involved; the tourist, the community, and the tourist companies, without harming the environment.

 

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN ECUADOR:

Ecuador contains some of the riches biodiversity in the world. A third of the regions in Ecuador are considered to be protected areas. These protected regions are considered to be significant to the development of Ecuador. Therefore, it is important that there is proper management of the resources in the parks and Indigenous land and that there is an intact habitat provided for the biodiversity and other ecosystem services in the country. Right now the Ecuador Sustainable Tourism Alliance works to expand sustainable tourism within and around the protected areas. To increase the economic benefits of tourism in Ecuador, to make the current tourism in Ecuador more sustainable, and to improve the way tourism in managed in Ecuador´s National Parks, especially in the Galapagos.

 

FOUNDATION BOLIVAR EDUCATION:

The Foundation Bolivar Education is a non-profit organization, which offers numerous programs that provided the opportunity for volunteers to do work within the environment and agriculture in Ecuador. The programs that are offered are committed to conserving ecosystems and promoting sustainable tourism. The Foundation Bolivar Education presents volunteer programs in Quito, Cuenca, the Amazon Jungle and the Pacific Coast, and the Galapagos Islands.

 

 

THE FOUNDATION BOLIVAR AND COLUMBUS TRAVEL:

Columbus Travel and the Foundation Bolivar Education are sister organizations. Foundation Bolivar Education is part of the Simon Bolivar Spanish School Group. The two partner organizations are located in separate buildings directly across from each other. The organizations work closely with each other and Columbus Travel is highly recommended by the School and vice versa. Columbus Travel believes in the works of the Foundation Bolivar Education and the volunteer work that it provides in the environment, agriculture, and sustainable tourism. This is because Columbus Travel also believes in sustainable tourism, and promotes in use in Ecuador in order to conserve the biodiversity of its rich and unique regions.

 

Columbus Travel and Rainforest Alliance have stablished an alliance to support Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism

RAINFOREST ALLIANCE AND COLUMBUS TRAVEL:

What does the frog stand for?

The little green frog represents the Rainforest Alliance, an international nonprofit organization that works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. As part of the Rainforest Alliance's efforts to conserve ecosystems and protect the rights and welfare of workers, their families and communities, the nonprofit is revolutionizing the tourism industry by:

• Providing training and technical assistance to hotels and restaurants
• Encouraging tour operators like Columbus Travel to work with these businesses
• Developing international standards for sustainable tourism
• Enabling tourists to travel responsibly.

In Ecuador, the Rainforest Alliance is helping the number of private and community run tourism operations implementing best management practices to grow. To date, more than 100 tourism businesses are working with our sustainable tourism program and more than 50 have been awarded the Smart Voyager certification seal granted by our local allied organization, Conservacion y Desarrollo.

To learn more about sustainable tourism in Latin America, please visit www.SustainableTrip.org.