By Paul Tavner

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The Indian subcontinent, stretching from the snow-capped Himalayas in the north to the white sandy coves of Kanyakumari in the south, is one of world’s most popular destinations for travellers in search of diverse experiences. After all, South Asian countries have a distinct energy that combines the spiritual, natural, cultural and human.

Travellers make their way to a Himalayan destination on yak back, accompanied by local guides

The pace of life in South Asia, particularly some of the larger cities, can seem chaotic and disorienting, sometimes even overwhelming to newcomers. While this feeling is usually assuaged after a short period of acclimation, many people still prefer to plan a visit in advance, thereby minimising the sense of first-arrival confusion and dislocation. Fortunately, these people are finding recourse in the growing number of businesses offering their services online.
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Posted under General, India, Nepal, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

By Ethan Gelber

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Michelle Rodrigues, who works for the WHL Group in Miami, USA, is the newest TIES Travel Ambassador

One week ago, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) announced Michelle Rodrigues as its newest Travel Ambassador. Michelle, born and raised in New York City but now resident in Florida, USA, is also a project manager and content editor for the WHL Group in its North America and the Caribbean Regional Office currently based in Miami.

Promoting Responsible Travel

The Travel Ambassador Program is a brainchild of TIES, “the world’s oldest and largest international ecotourism association,” which plays a pivotal role as a “global source of knowledge and advocacy uniting communities, conservation and sustainable travel.”

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Posted under General, responsible organisations, responsible traveller, whl.travel news, whl.travel newsletter

By Maureen Valentine

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The diamonds that were once harvested from the national park of the Chapada Diamantina (or Diamond Highlands) are only the tip of a precious natural resource iceberg in the northeast Brazilian state of Bahia. In fact, until recently, Chapada Diamantina was perhaps Brazil’s best-kept secret, trade from tourism having been on the rise only since it became an official national park in 1985.

Brazil's Chapada Diamantina landscape is known for the mesa-like features called 'tepuis'. In the Pati Valley (pictured here), hikers are rewarding to stunning vistas over the national park after a bit of serious legwork.

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Posted under Brazil, General, countries, local tips, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

By Ben Colclough, Director of Tourdust Ltd.

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There is a shift in Western societies that has its roots in travel. Social status has always traditionally been about flash badges of wealth, but nowadays, having a couple of wild and romantic stories up your sleeves from your travels is a far more impressive social differentiator.

Through AWOL (tour operator) and the Bicycling Empowerment Network, travellers can tour by bicycle through the Cape Town township of Masiphumelele in South Africa. Tours like this provide real jobs for people in the community. For example, bike mechanics repair the bicycles used and all guides are local.

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Posted under General, opinion, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

* MIRAR DEBAJO POR ESTE MENSAJE EN ESPAÑOL / SEE BELOW FOR THIS MESSAGE IN SPANISH
* LEIA LOGO ABAIXO ESTA NOTICIA EM PORTUGUÊS / SEE BELOW FOR THIS MESSAGE IN PORTUGUESE

The Chilotes of Chiloé, an archipelago located off the coast of southern Chile, are renowned for their elaborate folk tales and mystical stories inspired by the epic forests and ocean tides that surround them. Over the years this long-established mythology has blended with Catholic traditions to produce an unusual cultural fusion. A trip to Chiloé provides a friendly glimpse of the resultant unique customs against a backdrop of pure natural beauty.

After a rainy afternoon, the vivid colours in the sky blend to create a lovely sunset conclusion to a typical day in Chiloé, Chile

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Posted under Chile, General, countries, new local connections, whl.travel news

By Maureen Valentine

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Found off the coast of southeast Brazil, Ilha do Mel, which means Honey Island, is about as far from life’s chaos as serene nature can get. Hikers, surfers, bird watchers, stargazers and nature lovers alike are in awe of all that this little Atlantic island has to offer. In fact, many agree that Brazil’s most pristine beaches are located right here, where, until the 1970s, the local economy was dominated by fishermen and the lack of traffic spared the land as an ecotourism haven.

As Ilha do Mel is an island of fishermen, this colourful pier is always full of activity. Sampling the abundance of seafood available in the eateries from the daily catches is always a treat.

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Posted under Brazil, countries, local tips, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

By Ethan Gelber

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The EcoTrophea International Environmental Award

On 3 November, WHL Group, the parent company of whl.travel, was identified as one of five nominees (linked article is in German only, as is this video) shortlisted to win the EcoTrophea 2009, the German Travel Association (or DRV) International Environmental Award. (For an English-subtitled video of the WHL Group section only, click here.)

The EcoTrophea prize has been awarded annually since 1987 by the DRV for “innovative, high-impact and exemplary environmental protection projects in tourism”.

The 2009 winner (alas, not the WHL Group) was announced on 4 December at the 59th DRV Annual Congress in Egypt. The DRV Environment Jury identified five outstanding projects, from which the winner was selected.

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Posted under General, awards, responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news, whl.travel news

Contributors: Dawn Erickson, Sylvia Vriesendorp and Maria Witz

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This article was first published by our friends at The International Ecotourism Society, who have agreed to its republication here.
View the original article on their Your Travel Choice blog.

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What Is It Like to Visit Afghanistan?

Afghanistan, before becoming known mostly for guns and bombs, was a popular tourist destination, not only to the world’s ‘hippie’ generation, but also as an attraction for those living in the region. Band-e Amir, which you may have heard of most recently in the news as it has become Afghanistan’s first national park in April 2009, was actually meant to become a national park in the 1960s, but political instability has put any development of the destination on hold until now.

Band-e Amir National Park (Photo by Alex Dehgan)

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Posted under Afghanistan, General, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

By John Nicholls

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Every so often, I have the pleasure of meeting and working with people who not only follow their passions, but operate businesses that fully integrate the indigenous people of the destination into their businesses. One such person is is Pascal Guillet, owner/operator of Vanuatu Ecotours.

La Colle River is in pristine condition and Pascal is careful to show it with zero footprint, especially along a section that runs through a large private property and to which Pascal has exclusive access for trekking/ kayaking. Here, Pascal has met local Nivan guys along the track making lunch from a caught wild hen.

I chatted with Pascal – no easy task as he is always on the move – to find out what keeps him going.
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Posted under General, Vanuatu, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel, whl.travel newsletter

By Ethan Gelber

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A statue inside the grounds of Wat Impeng Temple, Vientiane, Laos (courtesy of Tari Bowling)

With a little luck, by early 2010, Lee Sheridan believes his company, Teamworkz Consulting, the whl.travel local partner in Laos, will have processed US$1 million worth of travel bookings through three Laos destination websites (Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane). Perhaps even more impressive than the gross numbers is the volume it represents: As of 10 October 2009, with completed bookings totalling almost US$800,000 and an average transaction valued at a few pennies more than US$115, that’s nearly 7000 bookings in just four years.

“Along with this, the three websites in Laos have already surpassed more than 100,000 unique visitors this year,” Sheridan enthused. “The Luang Prabang site alone has received over 60,000 unique visitors this year so far, and with our high season just starting, we may be able to reach 100,000 unique visitors for this one site in 2009.”

All in all, that’s not bad at all for a young company in an off-the-beaten-path nation notable for its least developed country status.
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Posted under General, Laos, Thailand, countries, responsible organisations, responsible travel, responsible travel news, whl.travel newsletter