My latest contribution to the World Nomads Responsible Tourism Blog, this time about our stay at Refugio Frey in Argentina’s Lake District. Check it out at the link below:
Argentina’s Accessible Backcountry
Industry Bloggin’
Industry Bloggin’
The latest from my contribution to World Nomad’s Responsible Tourism Blog can be found at the link below. The post is my criticism of tourism to the Uros floating islands in Peru and Bolivia. Check it out:
Floating Islands Would Be Better Off Sinking
Industry Bloggin’
The latest installment of my World Nomads posts can be found at the link below. The article is about our time on the Lake Titicaca islands and the community tourism project we visited. Happy reading, if you’re interested.
When Community Tourism Gets Too Popular
Industry Bloggin’
The next installment of my posts for World Nomads. The original can be found here, or copied below
Peru: Empowering Women Through Tourism
Women and the Impact of Tourism
Women in developing countries have it pretty tough. Sometimes very tough. Often viewed as 2nd-class citizens, commonly marginalized to very limited activities and privileges, some women struggle to earn even very basic rights. One of the biggest challenges preventing women from rising to equal status is dependence on their husbands, as men are the traditional breadwinners. Particularly in rural communities, the only paying work available is manual labor, leaving women unable to earn even the smallest wages. It’s an unfair cycle – no work, no money, no power, no decision making, no work, no money,…
For all the negative impacts tourism is blamed for (environmental degradation, cultural exploitation, economic dependence, etc), the empowerment of women is one of the industry’s most consistent and commendable positive influences. Granted, many of the most common jobs for women in tourism are low-skilled, low-paying positions that may actually reinforce existing gender stereotypes. But, when approached with cultural sensitivity and commitment to the community, responsible tourism can provide opportunities beyond some womens’ wildest dreams.
Women’s Empowerment Project in Peru
I recently visited with a phenomenal example of a women-supported tourism project in rural Peru. The Yanapana Foundation is a local NGO dedicated to supporting the communities along the Salkantay Trek through sustainable social programs and income-generating projects. While the empowerment of women is not cited as part of the organization’s mission, many of its projects are focused on small business development for women-run cooperatives.
A bit of background: The Salkantay Trek is a stunning 4-6 day hike, beginning in the town of Mollepata, and culminating with a visit to Machu Picchu. With many travelers looking for an alternative to the heavily trekked and regulated Inca Trail, the Salkantay has experienced a significant boom in recent years (and having recently finished a trip along the trek, I can personally vouch that you should absolutely choose the Salkantay over the Inca trail). While traditionally trekked with tented camp accommodations, the Mountain Lodges of Peru (MLP) has pioneered a lodge-to-lodge version of the trek. Before their first lodge was even built, MLP established the Yanapana Foundation, understanding that the well-being of their guests was tied directly to the well-being of the local communities.
The Impact
Ok, so what’s really happening to support women along the Salkantay? Yanapana has helped to establish a cooperative of women weavers and garment makers. Previously only making garments for family members, these women are now earning fair wages for creating clothing and blankets that are being sold to MLP guests and other trekkers on the Salkantay. Yanapana has helped to create and build a women-owned and operated jam making business that supplies all of MLP’s lodges as well as local grocery stores. Yanapana has also worked to provide language and professional training for women along the trek to assist them in obtaining jobs at MLP lodges. Oh yeah, and then there are all the other community projects facilitated by the organization, including providing free health care to local communities, gathering clothes for children in need, cleaning up the trail, providing health services and school supplies in rural schools, and teaching sustainable farming techniques.
So this is an impressive list of projects, and surely the organization’s impact is substantial. But what really moved me about the work of Yanapana was talking to the women who have been supported by its projects. To look into Maria’s eyes while she tells me that her husband now treats her with respect and dignity, and that she feels empowered to be contributing to the family’s finances is a moving experience. And to hear from Mercedes, the Yanapana Director (also a woman), that in 3 short years, they have transformed the lives of dozens of women along the Salkantay Trek, with grand plans to expand their impact, is inspiring to say the least.
This is all possible thanks to a responsible travel company who recognizes that its success is tied directly to the success of those in the communities that support it. Whether MLP’s guests are purchasing goods made by the Yanapana cooperatives or not, simply by using MLP’s services, guests are supporting the empowerment of women and the well-being of local communities. As a traveler, your choices of operators or hosts truly make a difference. Do what you can to seek out providers that have a similar commitment to the people in your host communities, and if you can, give a little extra to support their work. Your choice may have a bigger impact that you realize.
About the Author: Ted Martens
Ted’s journey into the travel and tourism industry started the summer after a two-month backpacking trip throughout Europe ignited a life-long passion for international travel. With a master’s degree in Tourism Development, Ted has focused his efforts on helping non-profit Sustainable Travel International promote responsible tourism across the globe as their Director of Outreach & Development. After working too hard for the past 5 years, he is on the road again, escaping the office for some field research… is the responsible travel movement taking seed across the globe, or not?
Industry Bloggin’
The next installment of my posts for World Nomads. Original can be found here, or copied below.
Community Tourism – Worth the Dirt?
WORLDWIDE | Monday, 20 September 2010 | Views [342]
Community-based tourism, a now popular buzzword among backpackers and eco-travelers, touts a more “authentic” experience, placing you in lives of local people in rural communities. In theory, it sounds great – eat, learn, interact, play, work, and live with the people indigenous to the areas you’re exploring (a rare opportunity along the beaten path). AND, know that your visit is benefiting these communities, often in dire straits for some form of sustainable economic opportunities. For the intrepid, adventurous, and tolerant traveler, this can all be true. But for many backpackers, community tourism is dirty, difficult, and down-right uncomfortable. Sound like something you´d like to try? Consider the following factors:
- Not all community tourism is the same. Some communities simply clear out a bedroom for your visit, add another portion to their food preparation, and treat you as one of the family. Others have built separate living quarters, complete with Westerner amenities like hot water, enclosed roofs, and private bathrooms (often times, these hosts have been instructed on Western culture, norms, and expectations). Before you dive into a community visit, determine what type of facilities are made available, and ensure that you’re comfortable with what’s being offered.
- Did you like going to summer camp when you were younger? Community tourism is nothing like summer camp, but if you still dislike the thought of bunk beds in a rustic, dirty, buggy cabin, then you likely won´t enjoy your digs with the host family. Remember, most of these families live in rural, poor areas, existing on less that US$2/day. Homes can be very basic, and often living in close contact with nature. If being dirty still sounds like fun, then keep reading.
- How are your non-verbal communication skills? Likely, English is not spoken by anyone in these rural areas. So, unless you speak the local language, you´re going to be signing your way through your request for more chicken or less rice. For many, this is a welcome challenge – it´s amazing how much can be communicated by pointing and a smile.
- Are you ready to immerse yourself in someone else’s lives? There are many challenges involved – eating unfamiliar foods, adjusting to the local schedule, living among the chickens and roosters (who, by the way, cock-a-doodle-doo WAY before dawn), walking miles for basic necessities, etc. However, the rewards can be rich, educational, and inspiring – it’s extremely rare to have such a first-hand view of the lives of people so different than you, culturally, economically, and personally. My hosts have been among the most generous, hard-working, and genuine people I’ve ever met.
If you dig the idea of connecting closely with local cultures, enjoy placing yourself in challenging situations, and are willing to look past the lack of western-style amenities, I urge you to give it a try.
I recently had the opportunity to visit a variety community tourism projects in northern Ecuador, each unique in its level of comfort, hospitality, and approach to hosting travelers. In some places, I felt more welcome and appreciated. In others, I felt like yet another gringo sitting at the dinner table. In some, I was clean and comfortable, but felt the scenario was a bit staged and not-so-authentic. In others, I was dirty, uncomfortable, but basking in the connections I made with the locals. A few tips from what I learned from these community based homestays:
- Authenticity is at odds with luxury. Not that any of the communities was luxurious, but the more amenities and comfort were available, the less of a connection I was able to make with the locals. Make your choice of community tourism visits based on what’s most important to you.
- Connections don’t happen just because you show up. At first, locals may be hesitant to talk to you, as they are unfamiliar with your intentions and puzzled by your presence in their community. Often, it takes a number of days before people are comfortable approaching you. It’s up to you to initiate conversation.
- Trust is built quicker when you participate in their lives. You may not be visiting a community to volunteer your time (or perhaps you are), but nothing builds a bridge like helping with the daily work. Whether that means helping with meals, working in the fields, or teaching English to kids, do what you can to participate in the lives of the people you’re visiting. That’s why you’re there, isn’t it?
- Ask lots of questions, but be ready to tell stories. You may be visiting to learn about the lives and cultures of the host community, but they are just as interested in learning about life from your home country. Show photos, tell stories, and share customs!
Interested in visiting or volunteering at a community tourism project in Ecuador? Contact Peter Shear and CASA Interamericana at info@casainteram.org
About the Author: Ted Martens
Ted’s journey into the travel and tourism industry started the summer after a two-month backpacking trip throughout Europe ignited a life-long passion for international travel. With a master’s degree in Tourism Development, Ted has focused his efforts on helping non-profit Sustainable Travel International promote responsible tourism across the globe as their Director of Outreach & Development. After working too hard for the past 5 years, he is on the road again, escaping the office for some field research… is the responsible travel movement taking seed across the globe, or not?
Industry Bloggin’
A few weeks back, I wrote a post about mixing work with play, and how I’m using this trip partially as a professional development opportunity. Well, in addition to the WTFs and the Pictures of the Week, I’m starting a new regular installment of posts, Industry Bloggin’, when my responsible tourism articles are published on the web. This week, check out the story I wrote for Sustainable Travel International’s monthly e-News about my friend Peter Shear and the great work he is doing in Ecuador. You can find the original at this link or copied below.
Featured Article: Community-based Tourism is Changing Lives in Rural Ecuador
By Ted Martens
Pucara, Intag River Valley, Ecuador – The Intag River Valley, a gorgeous and lush mountain landscape northwest of Quito, is home to one of the most bio-diverse zones in all of Ecuador (a UNESCO biodiversity “hot-spot” and deemed one of the 10 most bio-diverse ecosystems in the world, due largely to its extreme elevation change – sea level to 11,000 ft in only a couple dozen miles). In addition to its one-of-a-kind forests, flora, and fauna, the region is also home to a wealth of valuable minerals and ores beneath its surface. A number of mining enterprises are in pursuit of digging rights, and many locals are tempted by the short-term financial returns promised by these companies. Without a financially viable alternative, the region is doomed to be exploited and destroyed by the mining industry.
Pucara, a small Intag community of roughly 300 residents, is confronting these challenges with the help of The Inter-American Center for the Arts, Sustainability, and Action (CASA), an NGO committed to helping rural communities realize sustainable economic development opportunities. CASA Director Peter Shear, an American who has lived in Ecuador for over 12 years, is working closely with the Pucara community to develop viable economic alternatives to combat urban migration and unsustainable resource extraction.
While CASA’s projects span a wide range of economic development initiatives, a core component is community-based and volunteer tourism. For over 7 years, CASA has been bringing groups of student and young-adult volunteers to the area, working side by side with the locals to build community projects and infrastructure that benefit the residents and the community at large. Volunteers participate in “mingas”, organized project days where residents come together to work on a particular construction, farming, conservation, or other community-benefiting initiative. Funding for minga projects comes from local sources, as well as money raised by volunteers prior to their trips. To date, CASA volunteer tourism projects have included:
- Building homes for residents in need (recipients of the homes were chosen by a community housing board that accepted applications and prioritized based on economic and social factors).
- Construction of a community center for meetings, events, celebrations, weddings, etc. The center is the largest of its kind in all of Intag, and has turned into a source of revenue for Pucara, as neighboring communities have begun renting it out. Proceeds from this program now pay for transportation for Pucara students to attend high school in the neighboring community of Apuela (prior to this program, most kids in Pucara did not attend high school due to the prohibitive transportation costs).
- Purchase of land and construction of community organic gardens.
- Purchase of land and construction of community farms. Some of the poorest residents in town have no land, and were in need of space for subsistence farming.
- Construction of solar hot water showers for community use.
- Construction of soccer field facilities.
- Conservation through land purchasing, reforestation, and preservation.
- Education through organic and agro-ecological farming instruction and testing.
- Construction of community-based tourism facilities, including the Intag Spanish School (which employs 4 local women who otherwise would have little or no income); a trail network through the town and the protected area; and other visitor infrastructure.
This impressive list of projects, while organized and guided by CASA, was driven primarily by community initiation, participation, and democratic decision making. The result is a community with a much richer set of resources and infrastructure for creating new economic opportunities for local residents.
One of the most lucrative opportunities that has arisen from CASA’s work in Pucara is a well organized community-based tourism infrastructure. While initially developed primarily for the volunteers, Pucara is now well equipped and actively receiving independent travelers interested in an authentic experience interacting with rural Ecuadorian families and communities. A rotating homestay program with 20 participating local families allows travelers the chance to live, eat, sleep, and participate in lives of the residents of Pucara for US $10 dollars per night (which includes 3 meals). The rotating nature of the program ensures an equal distribution to families throughout the community. The CASA-established Spanish school, the first of its kind in Intag, allows travelers to hone their language skills while supporting local women teachers, all of which are government-certified. Travelers pay US $6 per hour for private lessons. Of course, there are always volunteer opportunities available, independently or through community mingas. The Intag River Valley also has a wealth of activities to offer visitors, from guided or independent hikes through protected areas and native cloud forest, to natural hot springs, local markets, and agro-ecological tours.
The Intag Valley (and most of rural Ecuador) is faced with a growing number of challenges in an increasingly globalized economy. With the majority of the younger working class fleeing traditional farming for greater financial opportunities in urban areas, Intag residents face an uncertain future. While the proposed mining project would reverse this trend and bring short-term returns to these poor regions (local jobs, mining subsidies, etc), the long-term environmental impacts would be disastrous. Volunteer and community tourism is one example of a successful alternative sustainable economic development model that is bringing similar benefits to the local population, allowing these communities to preserve their heritage, culture, and environment.
Interested in visiting Pucara and the Intag Valley? Contact CASA Interamericana Director Peter Shear at info@casainteram.org, 086-849-950 (within Ecuador), www.casainteram.org.
Ted Martens is STI’s former Director of Outreach. He is taking a yearlong sabbatical to explore the world and indulge his passion for learning about the latest and most innovative developments in sustainable travel. Keep in an eye out for Ted’s latest dispatches from across the globe in future editions of The Responsible Travel Report.