Wild Asia: Leader in 'green' holidays

THERE is a quiet revolution going on in the holiday destinations of the region as more and more travellers are seeking out holiday options that don't have a major impact upon the environment.

Increasing numbers of travellers are choosing holidays that benefit the local community, that don't destroy the very attraction they have come to see and, where travellers feel they have gained something valuable in their lives from the experience.

In an industry that loves to label trends, the latest one is called responsible tourism and it has its roots in ecotourism (tourism to observe relationships between living things and their environment).

However, responsible tourism is much more than going on a jungle trek to see some interesting plants or animals. It involves employing the local community in meaningful jobs, educating the local community, educating tourists, using appropriate technology, enforcing maximum visitor numbers if need be, adopting technology that harnesses alternate energy and following practices that don't have a huge impact upon the local environment.

!Malaysia's Dr Reza Azmi realised the importance of responsible tourism while conducting research in Sabah's Lower Kinabatangan River several years ago. He established Wild Asia (www.wildasia.net) to communicate to like-minded travellers seeking out destinations and wanting to participate in activities that didn't make a huge impact upon the environment or the local communities living there.

He claims increasing numbers of tourists want to travel lightly across the planet while on holidays and these people can use Wild Asia to seek out information about places that the mainstream media and tourist authorities often overlook. While many in the tourism industry may practice the environmental principles of reducing, reusing and recycling, increasing numbers are now rethinking the way they respond to the environment. In order for many tourist destinations to survive the increasing numbers of tourist arrivals, Azmi believes we have to rethink the way tourism currently operates in many destinations.

!As a start, Wild Asia recently conducted its second annual awards. These awards were designed to acknowledge the efforts of individuals, resorts and destinations around the region in setting an example to others on how responsible tourism practices can be implemented.

!This year's awards were recently presented at the Evason Phuket on the Thai resort island of Phuket. Over 40 regional resorts put themselves forward for consideration in three categories — Best Luxury-Boutique Resort and Hotel, Best Wildlife and Eco Lodge, and Best Community or Family-Run Homestay.

One of the most encouraging awards was given to Tmatboey Village Ecotourism (www.wcs.org or www.wildasia.net) which was selected as the region's best community homestay programme. Tmatboey is a remote village situated within the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary, Preah Vihear Province in northern Cambodia. This grassroots tourism activity is setting a wonderful example for other small community tourism projects located near nature reserves. The 185 families living here launched their ecotourism project in 2004 and are slowly starting to reap the rewards of showing bird enthusiasts from across the region around the sanctuary. The area is one of the few areas in the region to see highly endangered bird species like the giant ibis, white-shouldered ibis and white-rumped vulture.

The Spice Village got the award for the luxury category (www.casinogroupkerala.com) in Kerala, India. The resort is located adjacent to the Periyar Tiger Reserve and the managers there have set out to create an engaging and truly local Indian experience. Naturalists based in the resort conduct environmental walks around the resort and also present wildlife talks to the guests.

!Wild Asia narrowed the entries down to two Balinese finalists in the eco lodge section: Sarinbuana Eco Lodge (www.baliecolodge.com) and Udayana Eco Lodge (www.ecolodgesindonesia.com). Sarinbuana was selected as the winner as it exemplifies Balinese lifestyle and is committed to low-impact tourism. The resort is located next to Bali's largest tropical rainforest and guests can go on guided walks through the forests or a one-day trek to the summit of Mount Batukaru (2,200m). Numbers here are limited to just ten guests and all have the opportunity to stay in comfortable lodgings and dine on organically-grown fruits and vegetables harvested daily from the resort gardens.

As more people are able to travel these days, natural and cultural attractions in the region are experiencing greater pressure and more areas may see limitations being placed on visitor numbers.

Many travellers are choosing to stay in resorts which are more sustainable and environmentally friendly. More and more people are realising global warming is a real threat to the world they live in and, as the world becomes more crowded, resources become scarcer.

Responsible tourism will become stronger as more travellers ask questions about the environmental policies of tour operators, hotels and resorts that they use in their travels. Travellers and operators should consult the Wild Asia website as a starting point for making a contribution to the growing responsible tourism movement.The Brunei Times