INTERNATIONAL ECOTOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CONFERENCE - SEPTEMBER 24TH – 27TH, 2013

ESTC13: The international ecotourism and sustainable tourism conference will be held between September 24 and 27, this year. Already over 50 speakers have confirmed attendance and over 300 participants from 38 countries will be attending. The conference will address aspects of  ecotourism and global sustainable tourism.

 

While speaking about the conference in Nairobi, East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism secretary Phyllis Kandie noted that tourism is a major pillar in Kenya’s Vision 2030, and said the conference provided an opportunity to showcase diverse sustainable tourism products that constitute a vibrant Tourism sector.

On the eve of the conference, stakeholders in the Kenya Tourism Industry will be hosted for Kenya Night that’s seeks to celebrate historic Kenyan experience. The Night will also recognize and award organizations and Individuals that have demonstrated outstanding commitment towards promoting ecotourism and sustainable tourism best practices under the Eco-Warriors Awards. 

The Host destination is KENYA, Venue is Safari Park Hotel. Register here.

Source: Capital fm  video: ntv

Rwanda Eco-Tours founder honored to name a Baby Gorilla

 by Edwin Sabuhoro 

 Mr. Edwin Sabuhoro, the founder and owner of Rwanda Eco-Tours was honored by the country's Rwanda Development Board/Tourism and Conservation due to his contribution to conservation and sustainable development of the tourism industry to name a baby gorilla on a spectacular gorilla naming event that takes place every year, and which took place on 18th of June 2011. The baby from Amahoro family by mother Kubaha was named Ibyiza Sabuhoro, with the second name after him. This was all news and an excitement to all who have seen what Mr. Sabuhoro has done over the years for the development of Rwanda's tourism industry and for the survival of the mountain gorillas and having been successful to turn poachers into gorilla friends through incentive based projects where he invested his time, energy and money to see that local communities benefit from tourism and conservation and to have them on board as part and stakeholders of and in conservation to ensure sustainable conservation of the gorillas and their habitat Some of the successful projects so far have been the Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village that brings into the community 20,000 USD annually to the village neighboring gorillas and who were poachers, and the GOATS FOR GORILLAS projects, where every tourist who visits through Rwanda Eco-Tours gives a goat to a community family through a giving back to community celebration at the village. We hope to have every household to get a get a goat from tourism as an incentive for conservation, and that way the communities will know the importance of protecting and conserving the gorillas and their habitat. This is in addition to the 10% of annual profits contribution from Rwanda Eco-Tours back to the community. Excitingly has been small scale individual businesses developed by former poachers in crafts and agriculture that bring much needed income at the household level. 

From Rwanda Eco-tours

~ Rwanda Eco-tours