Tom Aussems 8/18/21 Tom Aussems 8/18/21

How a lodge in KwaZulu-Natal works for a better life for all […]

Since the days of the former tourism boasting about the growth of global tourism almost 20 years ago […], the local tourism industry has grown to become one of the largest employers in South Africa. Angus Begg from the Daily Maverick highlights the role of a particular establishment that has set somewhat of a benchmark in the area, if not the province: Three Tree Hill in Hambrook village.

Tom Aussems 8/2/21 Tom Aussems 8/2/21

From Poacher to Wildlife Ranger. What Changed his Mind?

Wildlife in the Leuser Ecosystem in Indonesia is endangered by illegal poaching activities, logging and unsustainable agricultural practices. Watch the video to learn more about how wildlife patrols protect not only animals, but also plant biodiversity.

Tom Aussems 7/29/21 Tom Aussems 7/29/21

The Italian gardens hoping to change tourism

With destinations slowly opening up for tourism again, […] travels that take in the great outdoors look set to boom post-pandemic. It's in that brave new outdoor world, CNN’s Antonia Mortensen and Sharon Braithwaite say, that Italy's gardens are seeing a resurgence.

Tom Aussems 7/26/21 Tom Aussems 7/26/21

The Good Traveler – A Mental Packing List

Thanks to the pandemic and the climate emergency, traveling, especially long-distance travel, has become far less commonplace and far more considered. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. Design Hotels has shared a mental packing list that allows us to travel better.

Tom Aussems 7/22/21 Tom Aussems 7/22/21

Sweden Ranked Best Country in the World for Sustainable Tourism

Scandinavia is renowned for its progressive attitudes so it’s no surprise that Sweden is leading the drive for sustainable travel, says Olivia Palamountain from Globetrender.

Tom Aussems 7/19/21 Tom Aussems 7/19/21

Pedal Power and Pigs Helped a Caribbean Resort Go Carbon-Neutral

Aruba’s Bucuti & Tara won rare recognition from the United Nations for its green efforts, which the agency says should be applied across the industry, Bloomberg author Jim Wyss reports.

Tom Aussems 7/15/21 Tom Aussems 7/15/21

These UNESCO World Heritage sites could lose their status due to environmental damage, development or overtourism

From Australia’s Great Barrier Reef to the city of Budapest and the watery wonderland that is Venice, several gorgeous sites risk losing their treasured UNESCO World Heritage status because of environmental damage, excess development or overtourism, Lifestyle Asia reports.

Tom Aussems 7/12/21 Tom Aussems 7/12/21

Tren Ecuador, the luxury tourist train supporting local communities

[Tren Ecuador] is not your usual luxury tourist train, says Eme Johnson from Travel Tomorrow. Rather than keeping travellers distracted, hidden away in luxury comfort and only gazing out windows at the scenery and people they pass, Tren Ecuador offers an immersion in the culture, customs and traditions of the area, with that bit of luxury on the side, of course.

Tom Aussems 7/8/21 Tom Aussems 7/8/21

5 Impactful Ways Travel Can Benefit Your Mental Health

The strain of the pandemic, compounded by stressful jobs and busy lives, has given way to the understanding that self-care and work-life balance are key factors to achieving a happy, healthy life. [...]. Traveling offers a much-needed reprieve from the worries of daily life, and more often than not, its cathartic, borderline-therapeutic qualities reinvigorate the spirit. Kate Eplboim from Regenerative Travel explores how the joys of travel can benefit your mental health.

Tom Aussems 7/5/21 Tom Aussems 7/5/21

It’s oh so quiet: silent whale watching on Iceland’s first electric boat tour

A carbon-neutral tour off Húsavík, in north Iceland, makes for a greener, more peaceful experience for visitors and sea creatures, says Phoebe Smith from The Guardian.

Tom Aussems 7/1/21 Tom Aussems 7/1/21

Intrepid Travel’s Overtourism Antidote for Europe Focuses on Hyperlocal and Remote

Intrepid Travel, considered a leader in the sustainable tourism space with its low carbon footprint and locally-led small group tours, showed it was moving past platitudes by launching a new kind of conservation-focused tour that aims to be the antidote to those big crowds visiting the same places in southern Europe, says Lebawit Lily Girma from Skift. It’s partnering with the MEET Network to do that, an association of protected areas in the Mediterranean that creates sustainable tourism products with the goal of benefitting conservation and communities.

Tom Aussems 6/28/21 Tom Aussems 6/28/21

How to travel like a local

Today’s traveler, says Outpatch, is more likely to snub their nose at double decker bus tours and forego long lines to visit “must see” attractions in favor of metaphorically wandering the streets of their destination like … well, like a local.

Tom Aussems 6/25/21 Tom Aussems 6/25/21

How Valencia became the first city in the world to verify its tourism carbon emissions

While there’s been a lot of talk about environmental issues in many cities of late, says The Independent author Annie Bennett, Valencia has been busy actually making things happen with a pioneering sustainable tourism strategy. It is the first city in the world to verify its carbon emissions from tourism-related activities, part of a commitment to be a carbon-neutral destination by 2025.

Tom Aussems 6/23/21 Tom Aussems 6/23/21

'Polluter elite': World's wealthiest contributing to 37 per cent of emissions growth

In a damning report, says Georgia Forrester from Stuff, the authors explain how the combined emissions of the richest one per cent of the global population account for more than the poorest 50 per cent.

Tom Aussems 6/10/21 Tom Aussems 6/10/21

Two Leaders in Ecuador Share How They’re Offering Climate Education Through Art + Travel

Jorge Perez, founder of Tierra del Volcan in Ecuador, and Andres Molestina, a photographer creating a historic record of the seven tropical glaciers remaining in Ecuador, [...] shared practical ways they’re leveraging their work to help engage more travelers in climate action.

Tom Aussems 6/7/21 Tom Aussems 6/7/21

If you're not a 'high value' tourist, some places don't want you any more

Travelling for leisure is a privilege, says Ben Groundwater from Traveller, but New Zealand is looking at taking that privilege away from some people.

Tom Aussems 6/3/21 Tom Aussems 6/3/21

Alladale Wilderness Reserve: Rewilding Scotland One Predator At A Time

Before Paul Lister purchased 23,000 acres in the Scottish Highlands and transformed it into one of the most stunning travel destinations in Europe today, the property was intended for a very different kind of guest, says Kate Eplboim from Regenerative Travel.

Tom Aussems 6/1/21 Tom Aussems 6/1/21

What does it mean to travel sustainably in 2021?

As travel tentatively resumes, says Francisca Kellett from National Geographic Traveller UK, the frequently misappropriated and misunderstood concept of sustainability is due a timely reassessment. What role can travellers play in protecting the balance of the natural world?

Tom Aussems 5/27/21 Tom Aussems 5/27/21

Responsible travel guide: practical actions you can take as a traveler

Responsible travel maximizes the benefits of tourism while minimizing its negative consequences. This guide from the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) shares practical actions you can take before, during, and after your trip.

Tom Aussems 5/24/21 Tom Aussems 5/24/21

How Our Purpose & Pace of Travel Will Shift Post-Pandemic

[A]s post-pandemic travel nears, it's important to reflect on the lessons we've learned and examine the newfound appreciation we have for the luxury of travel, and how it will shift our purpose and pace.

Let’s reinvent travel.