Reviving Travel: [9] Stories of Innovation from Destinations and Tour Companies
Around the world, travel destinations and tour providers have been busy […] reinventing themselves. Through a mix of individual and corporate efforts, well-deserved attention is falling on the most important aspects of travel – those areas that are ultimately responsible for tourism's healthy future, says Kristin Henning from Travel Past 50.
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As we move back to travel, we want to pass along some exemplary stories, encouraged by the initiatives we’re hearing about. We know serious travelers want to understand the priorities of the countries they visit and the tour operators they work with. […].
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DESTINATIONS
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Panama
Panama has injected its tourism plan with a number of ambitious new programs. The first thing to know is that Panama, as part of the COP26 in Glasgow, was designated the first pilot country to support the UN’s fund for Climate Neutral Tourism. […].
Panama is one of three “carbon negative” countries in the world, meaning the amount of CO₂ emissions removed from the atmosphere is greater than the amount put into the atmosphere. This initiative, other than setting a standard for other countries and destinations, is designed to establish a smart carbon trading marketplace and, furthermore, to trigger economic growth that benefits local communities.
What does that mean to you and me? Visitors will discover new adventure opportunities in Panama’s interior with emphasis on nature and wildlife and new hiking trails. Panama now showcases the variety of indigenous and local cultures across the country, especially outside Panama City. We’re intrigued by the development of a new coast to coast trek, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, via hiking, rafting and biking, engaging with local communities along the way.
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South Africa
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After researching the positive effects of South African content on future tourism, the tourist board, along with Netflix, put together Made in South Africa, a curated collection featuring over 80 South African films, series, documentaries and reality TV shows created by some of the country’s top talent.
The impact of South African creative storytelling are already evident: Viewers of My Octopus Teacher want to visit South Africa for its nature and wildlife, viewers of Blood and Water are attracted to its landmarks and monuments, while viewers of Seriously Single want to explore the country’s creative scene. Generating cultural affinity through creative content, they are confident, will drive tourism when the time comes.
Quebec
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What’s new? Check out the REM, the Réseau Express Métropolitain, in Montreal. This environmentally-friendly project is designed to increase mobility in Montréal and generate growth for the area. The fully electric light rail system will have a direct line between the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport and downtown. Portions are scheduled to open this summer, with completion of the line in 2024.
For nature lovers, the National Parks of Quebec (SEPAQ) has expanded its accommodations in several of its 24 national parks in the province. This makes it easier to explore some of Québec’s most breathtaking protected areas, which span over 60,820 square kilometers.
Finland
When the pandemic hit, Finnish travel companies and entrepreneurs found creative ways to combine health and safety with innovative travel experiences. The tourist bureau of Finland told us about many “hospitality heroes” working in all aspects of tourism. Here’s just a sampling:
Hotel Iso-Syöte is a great example of Finnish determination. When ravaged by fire, the owners doubled down and built anew during the pandemic. Now, travelers get to enjoy a new design-driven hotel with top-level experiences in grand scenery, located atop a fell next to a serene national park.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, chef and culinary influencer Henri Alén organized a week-long charity event where thousands of top-notch dishes were provided to people who usually do not get to enjoy fine dining.
The charming Hakamaa Sheep Farm in Petäjävesi, Central Finland, managed to play the pandemic to their advantage by developing new, virus-safe services, such as relaxing forest escapes and virtual sheep encounters for remote meetings. They also have a small farm shop selling their own and local products and are soon opening a restaurant with the help of crowdfunding.
Flanders, Belgium
The Flanders region of Belgium announced a comprehensive project, ‘Tourist-recreational cycling in Flanders 2020-2025’, for which the partners have raised nearly one and a half million EUR.
The revamping of multi-day cycling trips in the region involves the creation of eight thematic cycle routes and a new Flanders Route (for a total of 9 new routes) that replace the 30-year-old long-distance routes.
Completion of the new routes was scheduled by 2025. However, because of the pandemic and an increased demand for off-the-beaten path experiences, the rollout was fast-tracked. All new routes have been in operation since summer 2021.
Each cycle route stitches together iconic Flemish scenery, attractive cycle paths signposted in two directions, and a unique theme. They also connect to other European cycling networks. The new routes are perfect for all cyclist looking for a recreational and immersive experience in Flanders.
Best of the Alps
Among a group of destinations in the Swiss Alps, representatives report a big variety of positive responses to the pandemic, from chef tables to special discounts, and from added-value ski lessons to sustainability initiatives.
We like this story from Davos refocusing on the local community: “Since most of the locals and second homeowners have never stayed in a local hotel nor used its amenities (e.g. pool area) Davos hoteliers offered attractive pricing to invite locals/second homeowners into the hotels.”
Best of the Alps provides visitors with a one-stop site for browsing and booking holidays in the Alps.
TOUR PROVIDERS
Birds Chile
The extraordinary story of pandemic initiatives by adventure and wildlife tour company BirdsChile is inspiring for anyone striving to survive and thrive through hardship. Like others in tourism, Raffaele Di Biase, co-founder of BirdsChile and ReWild Chile, struggled through the early weeks of the pandemic, rescheduling and refunding trips.
“We had a great number of travelers [scheduled] for the solar eclipse. Some of them rescheduled but many, of course, did not. The eclipse was once-in-a-lifetime experience that would not be possible to replicate.”
Ultimately, Di Biase and his partners applied their energy and funds into helping the immediate COVID situation, finding a way to support BirdsChile staff, and to help local schools and businesses manage through the epidemic.
A local biotechnology company in Puerto Varas, Kura Biotech, was creating saliva PCR tests with a high accuracy and fast results. “”We thought that it could be a great chance to create safety bubbles at destinations, so we started to talk to them.
“After unsuccessfully trying to work with public officials, we decided to invest our savings, and opened a testing center to offer fast PCR saliva tests to companies and schools to track and prevent the spread through a weekly testing process. We hired two biotechnologists to operate the center, and we had great support and training by Kura Biotech to be able to operate at the highest standards. We involved some of our guides on it giving them jobs as drivers and logistical support staff. We opened the testing operation center in a few weeks and after a month we were testing more than 500 people a week, which we are still doing.”
Collaborating with others, BirdsChile was able to increase its team and begin preparing for the 2022-2023 season. The laboratory is still operating (led by Teresa Ontes, co-founder of BirdsChile) and offering tests to companies, travelers, residents, and of course to the BirdsChile staff who are tested every week.
“We strongly believe that locals must be the first travelers of their own destination,” said Di Biase. Certainly Di Biase's care of his local community promotes safe and responsible tourism for visitors returning to Chile.
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“We strongly believe that locals must be the first travelers of their own destination. ”
Exodus Travels
Exodus Travels, one of the leaders in global adventure travel over the past 45 years, demonstrates its dedication to putting Nature First with a multi-faceted program. Exodus had already committed to the earth by setting out to halve their carbon footprint by 2030 through trip and flight emissions compensation. Now the tour operator has a new goal of becoming Nature Net Positive by 2024. The accelerated efforts involve rewilding 100 square meters of land per passenger, eliminating single use plastics on their tours, and avoiding harmful wildlife interactions, among other strategies.
Exodus' new partnership with Rewilding Europe has resulted in one of the company's few new trips launched in the last year: Rewilding the Appeinines (Italy). See the mini-documentary, Restoring Italy’s Wild Heart, for a sense of what travelers can contribute to and gain from such a journey.
As for giving back, Exodus, has been busy. “We launched our Covid Emergency Relief Appeal for India and Nepal,” reports Robin Brooks, Exodus' marketing director, addressing the dire economic circumstances among Himalayan guides and families. Details about this campaign can be found here. Learn more about the Exodus Foundation and find donation links to timely causes right here.
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SUPPORTING RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) is a membership and marketing organization for the development of Indigenous tourism experiences. ITAC’s members are Indigenous-owned and controlled businesses from every province and territory in Canada.
ITAC launched a four-year, $50 million strategic recovery plan with the goal to respond, recover and rebuild the Indigenous tourism industry across Canada to levels experienced in 2019. Up until then the Indigenous tourism sector was growing and flourishing, contributing $1.9 billion in direct GDP. The sector includes some 1,900 Indigenous tourism businesses and 40,000 Indigenous tourism employees.
Now ITAC has revised its targets to return to pre-COVID levels by 2025. For more info and inspiration for supporting Indigenous Tourism of Canada, watch this “State of Our Industry” video.
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THE UPSHOT
Despite the lingering effects of the pandemic on the travel industry – and in some cases because of the severe consequences – many travel companies like these have devoted themselves to improving their game. From small start-up companies to major tourism destinations, the best are re-examining their internal practices while educating themselves and responding to the global impact of tourism.
Now all that's needed are travelers, in particular travelers cognizant of sustainable tourism issues like local economies and environment. Individuals make the difference.
This is an excerpt from an article originally written by Kristin Henning and published by Travel Past 50.
