Planeta Forum

[planeta]

This topic highlights news from Ashoka's Changemakers
http://changemakers.net

[skrelnick23]

In Partnership with National Geographic and World Hotel Link

Fascinating opportunities to enjoy being a tourist - while making a contribution to the well-being of a destination's environment, culture, and its residents - are bubbling up on Changemakers.net. People are posting their comments and reactions to descriptions of geotourism projects in the Changemakers/National Geographic online GeoTourism competition. They are flowing in from all corners of the globe, including places a bit off the beaten track such as Bulgaria, Madagascar, Mongolia, Uruguay, and the little island nation of Vanatu. Not all of the projects are exotic: for example there is a female German travel professional who moved to the Arkansas River Valley, deep in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, to establish "Real West Travel," a system of eco-friendly ratings for everything from motels and B&Bs to boutique hotels.

Changemakers.net allows anyone to participate in this competition, which is a global search for innovations in tourism that sustain, enhance and preserve local culture and environment. You can nominate a place that you have visited and enjoyed and help them get recognized for their innovative work in sustainable, responsible, holistic tourism. Or you can ask questions, comment, debate, collaborate on ideas, and learn more about how you can get involved. http://www.changemakers.net/geotourismchallenge

[skrelnick23]

National Geographic –& Ashoka’'s Changemakers Geotourism Challenge: Celebrating Places/Changing Lives seeks leading innovators who believe in the power of tourism to protect the world’s distinctive destinations.

This collaborative competition will identify innovative and transformative ideas that sustain, enhance, or preserve culture and environment.
The Geotourism Challenge provides a platform to help accelerate their potential for global impact.

Get involved. Find out more… http://www.changemakers.net/geotourismchallenge

PLANETA is a proud supporter and partner of the Geotourism Challenge, working to create opportunities for collaboration and innovation in sustainable tourism around the world.

Contact Tyler Ahn at tahn@ashoka.org for details”

[skrelnick23]

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC COMPETITION SURFACING INNOVATIONS IN TOURISM

Online Entries Accepted Until April 16th


WASHINGTON (April 3, 2008) — The National Geographic Society and Ashoka’s Changemakers are inviting geotourism innovators to enter a global online collaborative competition. The Geotourism Challenge: Celebrating Places, Changing Lives recognizes entrepreneurs that aim to sustain or enhance the geographical character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.

The challenge is accepting entries until April 16, 2008. Everyone is invited to review and discuss applications and help innovators refine their ideas. The finalists of the competition will have the opportunity to present their innovations at a Geotourism Challenge Summit and three winners will receive $5,000 each.

The competition includes a unique nomination process where travelers worldwide are invited to submit their favorite example of geotourism at www.changemakers.net/geotourismchallenge

More than 100 innovations from 50 countries have already been submitted. For example, 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking employs Nepalese women to become adventure professionals. Blue Ventures brings groups of paying volunteers to supply the man power needed to protect threatened marine resources in Madagascar. In the U.S., The Rolling Rains Report increases access to tourism for people with disabilities.

"Tourism can be a positive force to help alleviate poverty, educate the public, and motivate preservation and conservation of cultural, natural and historic resources. When done poorly, tourism fails to provide local benefits and may destroy the distinctive assets of a destination. This Geotourism Challenge invites transparent discussion about ways to manage tourism better," said Jonathan B. Tourtellot, director of National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations (CSD). "The Challenge will recognize effective innovations that can be replicated elsewhere. It's a catalyst to seek ways to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy and experience great destinations."

The Geotourism Challenge is the first of three annual collaborative competitions in partnership with Ashoka's Changemakers. “Ashoka’s vision is to build an ‘Everyone a Changemaker’ world,” said Bill Drayton, Ashoka’s founder and CEO. “National Geographic's commitment will ensure geotourism innovators, decision-makers and enthusiasts can gather together to inspire a global community to care and to act.”


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The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society works to inspire people to care about the planet. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

Ashoka's Changemakers is building an "open source" online community that competes to surface the best social solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. To date, Changemakers has attracted more than 2,000 solutions from more than 125 countries. www.changemakers.net.

[skrelnick23]

[planeta]

The Geotourism Challenge: Celebrating Places - Changing Lives

**Entry deadline entended to Monday April 21 at 6:00 pm EST.** National Geographic & Changemakers team up and we hope you will enter now!
(253 entries from 72 countries)
(639 discussion comments)
http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/competition/geotourism

[planeta]

Changemakers on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2415011473

[skrelnick23]

15 INNOVATIVE GEOTOURISM PROJECTS NAMED FINALISTS
IN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC-ASHOKA’S CHANGEMAKERS COMPETITION

From the 323 entries submitted from 84 countries, our esteemed panel of judge’s selected these 15 finalists:

1. Wildlife Conservation Society, Gabon: Establishing Gabon as the gateway to Africa’s rainforests by highlighting its pristine nature and ancient cultures
2. Blue Ventures Conservation, Madagascar: Using paying volunteer program as a strategy to protect threatened marine resources
3. Banyon Tree Hotel, Maldives: Creating a marine lab to protect, conserve, research, and educate about the coral reef environment
4. CC Africa, South Africa: Pioneering land and wildlife conservation, and giving local rural communities a meaningful share of the benefits
5. Chumbe Island Coral Park, Ltd., Tanzania: Creating a financially, ecologically and socially sustainable model to save the country’s coral reefs
6. Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries, Greece: Offering seminars for organic farmers, chefs, historians, mountaineers and other locals to share their knowledge about Crete’s culture and nature with visitors
7. Eco-Health Farms, Latvia: Integrating ancestral traditions, nature protection and health prevention
8. Evason Phuket & Six Senses Spa, Thailand: Setting up an eco-trail that shows locals and guests the resort’s environmental practices
9. Exotica Cottages, Dominica: Integrating local expertise in gardening and conservation into the island’s ecotourism efforts
10. Great Baikal Trail, Russia: Establishing Russia’s first system of hiking trails to promote environmentally sustainable development
11. Rios Tropicales Lodge, Costa Rica: Protecting the rainforest through the collaboration of local communities, tourists, and conservation organizations
12. Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust, India: Changing local mindsets towards snow leopards
13. 3 Sisters Adventure Trekking, Nepal: Training and empowering women to be guides in adventure tourism efforts
14. Tourism Board of Bhutan, Bhutan: Making geotourism development a national policy
15. Yachana Foundation, Ecuador: Offering lodging, meals, adventure and education through experiences with local Amazonian nature and culture

The four judges who reviewed submissions and selected the finalists were Keith Bellows, Vice President of the National Geographic Society and Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic Traveler; Susan Berresford, Past President of The Ford Foundation; Leonard Cordiner, CEO of WHL Travel; and Nachiket Mor, President of the ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth.

"I was stunned at the quality of the applications,” said judge Keith Bellows. “They showcased great innovation that can be exported to other countries; terrific successes against long odds; and a far-reaching global distribution of projects. Not only did the entries make fascinating reading but I was inspired by the vision, imagination, passion, and entrepreneurship of the people who are making a difference in the lives of locals and travelers."

The global online community can vote for the three winners, through June 11, at www.changemakers.net. The winners will be announced on June 17, and will each receive a cash prize of US $5,000.

[planeta]

And the winners are ...

[planeta]

Greetings

Can you let us know who won ... and will the challenge be repeated next year?

[skrelnick23]

Check out http://changemakers.net/en-us/competition/geotourism to find out!

None were from the US, one was a woman and they are all impressive!

Stay tuned for your chance to tell us about your favorite destinations in January of 2009!

[dvbutler]

Dear Members,
Due to the launch of our new website which is happening today we have extended our competition deadline to Monday May 25th 2009

We’d love to profile your work so that you too can benefit from opportunities for exposure and funding. Here are 5 reasons to submit your entry:

1. The chance to receive cash prizes, resources and recognition: check out the many incentives for entrants listed on our website.

2. Potential for media exposure from journalists viewing the competition site: our marketing campaign involves over 600 journalists that are looking for stories and information.

3. More opportunity for comments from experts and visitors: our on-line competition allows for feedback and insights provided by expert commentators and website visitors.

4. Greater access to the geotourism network: the global geotourism community can help broaden your impact and expand your audience.

5. The form is easy to complete. Also, posting some information about your work and your contact details can lead to current or future opportunities as it remains on our website.

We look forward to profiling your work, connecting you to our global network and opportunities! Please visit us at
www.changemakers.net/geotourismchallenge
or if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me at:
dbutler@changmakers.net

I look forward to hearing from you soon!