ECHO-TourismEngaging Communities’ Honest Opinion

on Eco-Tourism

Ecotourism

A concept incorporating the goal that tourism should contribute to the conservation of the natural landscape and the welfare of the local community.

(Restated) Diamantis, 1999

DESCRIPTIVE

Ecotourism

Nature

Green

Low-Impact Land Development

Energy & Water Conservation

Proper SWM

Community Engagement

BiodiversityConservation

VALUES-BASED

Ecotourism

?

Problem

“Ecotourism” is largely used for marketing and not really understood as a values-based operation.

Proposed Solution

To create a platform (website) where tour operators are able to rate themselves and provide information about their sustainability initiatives; and for guests to be able to validate it through a rating and feedback mechanism.

ECHO-TourismEngaging Communities’ Honest Opinion on Eco-Tourism

Proposed Solution

Solid Waste Mgt

Community Engagement

Low-Impact Land

Development

Energy & Water

Conservation

Biodiversity Conservation

Five-Leaf Rating System

Goals

• Ensure that tour operators are practicing values-based ecotourism

• Educate tourists to be responsible travellers and to equip them with a tool for more informed decision-making

• Provide an online review system for tour operators and a real-time feedback mechanism for travellers

Key Steps

1. Identify ecotourism operations in the Philippines and Vietnam

2. Create a rubric for the “five-leaf rating” mechanism

3. Design a digital platform (website) for easy accessibility

4. Market the platform to tour operators and partner with key institutions for promotion and credibility

Human Resources

PROMOTIONS Abyan

Bunroth

TECHNOLOGYAlicia Albert

RESEARCHTiffany Jenica

FINANCIALS Tiffany Alicia

Financial Resources

Key Partners

Other Partners

Timeframe

MAY JUN JULY AUG SEPT OCTonwards

sResearch/ Rubric Development

Web development

Beta testing

Launch

Monitoring and Evaluation

Marketing Plan

Target Audience: Tour operators and tourists

Pre • Advertise on ecotourism magazines and websites • Online • Do promotional/ educational talks with university

travel organizations

Marketing Plan

Target Audience: Tour operators and tourists

Mid • Launch event • Partnering with travel bloggers/ social media

celebrities and making them ambassadors of the platform

Marketing Plan

Target Audience: Tour operators and tourists

Post • Engagement • Follow-ups • Continuous promotions through forums/ talks/ other

events

Success Indicators

• Have at least 50 ecotourism operators/ country as members

• Have at least 2000 members at the end of the launch year

• Have at least 50 submitted reviews/ month

It is connection that makes us care. We care more for a friend than a stranger.

We want to bring people closer to nature, but we also have to be mindful of the footprints we leave.

ECHO-Tourism Engaging Communities’ Honest Opinion on Eco-Tourism