By Ashley Hiemenz

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It is well known that animals are a powerful tourism catalyst throughout the world. However, after the tragic death of Dawn Brancheau at Orlando SeaWorld on February 22nd, many questions have again been raised about the exploitation of whales and dolphins as entertainment. SeaWorld, owned by Blackstone, is a profitable business that fills its stadiums day after day with thousands of viewers eager to watch animals do circus tricks. The animals live and perform in pools the conditions of which have been likened to a human spending the rest of his or her life in a bathtub.

The spinner dolphin is common to the waters of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, and most famous for its acrobatic displays. Some have been seen completing 14 spinning jumps one after another.

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Posted under Estonia, General, Malaysia, South Africa, opinion, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

By Ashley Hiemenz

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Set on the southeastern edge of Europe, Moldova has undeniably received very little tourist traffic compared to the rest of the continent. Ask most people where Moldova is and there’s a good chance they’ve never even heard of it. However, more and more travellers are venturing to this little-chartered destination just a bit too far off the radar for mass tourism. What they find are traditional villages, pristine countryside, charming farm-style accommodation and, of course, Moldova’s celebrated wine.

As seen from the Botanical Park that helps make Chisinau one of the Europe's greenest cities, these 'main gates' are often the first vision visitors see as they arrive from the airport

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Posted under General, Moldova, countries, local tips, whl.travel newsletter

By Ashley Hiemenz

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Elegant, mysterious and enormous, the humpback whale is utterly breathtaking when seen up close for the first time. With their enigmatic singing and endearing gentleness, these magnificent beasts have continued to perplex and allure travellers from around the globe, wishing to behold these nomadic mammals during their epic migrations.

The magnificent breach of a humpback whale off the Morro de São Paulo coast of Brazil

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Posted under Brazil, General, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel

By Ashley Hiemenz

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The port city of Marmaris, set in southwest Turkey, is one of many of the country’s summer hotspots. Although little remains of the quiet fishing village that survived until a building boom in the 1980s, further down the Datça Peninsula is a place that has little to do with the hubbub of the resort city, a place where the community has come together in opposition to mass-tourism gigantism and instead opted to take a more holistic approach.

A traditional Turkish-village bread oven is the unlikely but excellent focus of a community-led responsible-tourism project on the Datça Peninsula to preserve the master crafts of both oven-building and bread-baking.

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Posted under General, Turkey, countries, local tips, responsible travel

A Visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Look Beyond Its Recent Past to a Greener Present

By Ashley Hiemenz

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Hikers in the Bosnia and Herzegovina highlands above Trnovacko Lake

The ghost of recent violent times in the Balkans still haunts the region; few people give it priority consideration as a destination of choice for their next holidays, perhaps least of all places like post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mere mention of Sarajevo and Mostar conjures up memories of the human and material devastation that occurred during the 1990s.

However, over the last decade or so, easing recriminations have allowed for significant developments and improvements to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s tourism infrastructure. Intrepid travellers tempted to try something new have been thrilled to discover an incredible country of stunning and pristine nature, a fascinating blend of cultures including some of the oldest traditional practices in Europe, friendly people, UNESCO World Heritage sites and world-famous Balkan cuisine. For city enthusiasts, Sarajevo, the capital, is a cosmopolitan centre with trendy bars and cafes, while nature mavens will find in the surrounding mountains and countryside countless escapes and excursions.
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Posted under Bosnia and Herzegovina, General, countries, local tips, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter