Green hotels on Expedia.com

Sustainable travel—also known as responsible travel, green travel, eco-tourism, and geotourism—is redefining the travel industry. Hotels and other tourism companies are being challenged to do business in an increasingly environmentally friendly, socially responsible way.

This growing demand has spurred many hotels, both large and small, to implement sustainable business practices. To recognize these pioneers, each striving toward the three main areas of sustainability—environmental protection, socio-cultural responsibility, and local economic growth—the Sustainable Tourism Criteria program was created.

Over the past year, Expedia, Inc. has supported the efforts of the United Nations Foundation, United Nations Environmental Programme, United Nations World Tourism Organization, the Rainforest Alliance, and other leading sustainable tourism experts to develop a comprehensive set of standardized global criteria to evaluate sustainable hotels and tour operators. The efforts of these industry and conservation experts will culminate in the Global Baseline for Sustainable Tourism Criteria program, that will be officially launched in October 2008 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

This program uses criteria pulled from the hundreds of existing certification programs to create a common understanding of what sustainable tourism really means—and best practices for achieving it. These criteria represent a guideline for businesses to strive toward, including a self-assessment piece missing from the current marketplace. Once in place, the Sustainable Tourism Criteria will help consumers, the travel industry, media, and even governments differentiate, recognize, and support sustainable tourism.

To demonstrate our support for this sustainability project—and to help travelers to make informed choices when planning a vacation—Expedia is highlighting hotels that comply with existing certification programs that best match the Global Baseline for Sustainable Tourism Criteria that’s being developed. But this is just the beginning.

In October, our list will be updated to only display the hotels that meet the Global Baseline for Sustainable Tourism Criteria, creating a resource travelers can use to find sustainable hotel options around the world.

Learn more about the Sustainable Tourism Criteria Initiative.

Green hotels on Expedia.com

Pacific Magazine Ceases Publication

The July-August 2008 issue of Pacific Magazine will be the last. After 32 years, the Hawaii-based news magazine will cease to be a print publication. Publisher Floyd K Takeuchi cited flat circulation, rising postal costs, and competition from the internet as reasons for Pacific’s demise. The magazine intends to carry on as a web-only news portal, but online it will be competing with dozens of other South Pacific internet news sites while as a print publication its sole competitor was Fiji-based Islands Business.

The loss of Pacific Magazine is a sad landmark in the history of Pacific journalism. Pacific’s coverage of events in Micronesia and American Samoa was unsurpassed, and their format was visually pleasing. Departments like High Tide, Pac Notes, Air + Sea, Stuff We Like, Pac Travel, and People Briefs contained little gems of information not found elsewhere. The photography was excellent, making each issue a joy to peruse. And for readers in US postal zones, the subscription rate was much lower than that of Islands Business.

Of course, Pacific Magazine’s situation is not unique. Newspapers and magazines worldwide are hemorrhaging readers and advertising revenue to the internet. Travel guidebooks are also feeling the pinch as people surf for free information. Moon Handbooks South Pacific was discontinued after 28 years when the cost of production exceeded income from book sales. Only amateurs work for free, and much of the travel information currently on the web is the unedited and incomplete work of amateurs. Most of the rest is paid advertising.

I sincerely hope Pacific Magazine’s advertisers stick with them online so they can continue covering the Pacific islands as they have up until now. Nevertheless, I’m going to miss the printed magazine which I’ve indexed and used as a primary reference for three decades. My thanks to editor Samantha Magick and publisher Floyd Takeuchi for all their hard work, and I wish them every success in their new web-only format.

South Pacific Travel Blog: Pacific Magazine Ceases Publication

Google Books South Pacific

The entire text of the eighth edition of Moon Handbooks South Pacific is now accessible on Google Books. You can scroll down through the 1,091 pages or click the Contents link to jump to a specific section. Buttons at the top of the page allow you zoom in, view two pages at a time, or switch to full screen. From the righthand column, you can search inside the book. Moon Handbooks South Pacific is rich in detail and you’ll find specific information on thousands of islands.

Anyone seriously interested in the Pacific islands will want Moon Handbooks South Pacific in their library and the “buy this book” links on the Google Books page make it easy to order online. At US$16.47 from Amazon.com, this fully indexed handbook is a bargain. A ninth edition will not be published for reasons explained in South Pacific Handbook RIP, so don’t bother waiting for the new edition because it isn’t going to happen. I’ve given Google Books permission to post my book on their website to make its full contents easily accessible to people the world. Downloading, copying, saving, or printing out pages from Google Books is restricted as Moon Handbooks South Pacific is protected copyright.

South Pacific Travel Blog: Google Books South Pacific

Grist - The Environment - TIME

By ERIC ROSTON

Grist is the Colbert Report of climate change, the Daily Show of deforestation, the Oprah of oil dependency — except with real reporting and analytical journalism.

Also, Grist staffers have never had a dust-up with David Letterman. (Not yet.) The e-zine delivers news and news-you-can-use on pivotal topics — with punny, sometimes corny headlines, such as "Diversifying Your Stalk Portfolio," a recent article on hunters and climate change, or "Let's Call the Coal Thing Off," a take on the growing popularity of "coal-bashing."

One of the site's most visited and handiest features should be bookmarked in every climate-defender's browser: Coby Beck's comprehensive rebuttal to all global-warming naysayers, "How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic."

Sample Grist humor: You might want to sit down for this: Al Gore will announce his candidacy for president this week, knowledgeable sources tell Grist. There's an inconvenient truth for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Gore believes the two Democrats and Republican John McCain aren't giving climate change the urgent attention it deserves, so he's decided to go for the job himself, say Gore advisors who requested anonymity as they aren't authorized to speak to the press. (The story ran on April Fools' Day.)

Grist - The Environment - TIME

Tips for responsible travel

Things to consider when planning an unforgettable eco vacation

What is the best way to travel in a responsible manner? First, it is important to have a clear picture of what responsible travel actually means. In general terms, what sets responsible travel apart from conventional travel is its emphasis on conservation, education, and participation in the activities of local communities. Now that we know this, we can start thinking about ways in which we can incorporate these concepts when planning our ideal vacation.

• When choosing your travel destination, try to find environmentally friendly means of getting there. Planes emit the most carbon dioxide per traveler, so try reaching your vacation spot by train or bus, to minimize the emission of greenhouse gases. It may take you a bit longer to get there, but you will be reducing your carbon footprint considerably.

• Once you reach your destination, try to avoid taxis or renting cars, and travel on foot or using public transport to get from place to place.

• Try to stay at green hotels- hotels that are committed to minimizing their impact on the environment and emphasize sustainability. Hotels with energy reduction practices, waste management, and other environmentally sound policies are always good options. Take a look at the hotels on this website for some ideas.

• If you are thinking of bringing back souvenirs, try buying local merchandise. Souvenirs manufactured ion the other side of the globe not only imply more fuel costs and unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions, but they do nothing to contribute to local the communities. Souvenirs made locally generate direct benefits for the communities you visit.

• Take your digital camera. Digital photos don’t carry developing costs and there is not need for film.

• Don’t buy packaged snacks which create unnecessary waste. Eat organic foods, which are grown implementing techniques that reduce pollution and conserve water and soil. Not only are they grown employing environmentally friendly practices, but they taste better.

These are just a few easy tips we can consider when planning our vacation. After all, our trips don’t just carry a monetary price; they carry an environmental price as well.

Ecotrotters.com - Eco Articles - Tips for responsible trave

Eco Tourism

Lush tropical rainforests, year-round sunshine, pristine coral reefs, sand-adorned shorelines and a lack of poisonous creatures make Fiji an ideal eco-tourism destination.

Seeing Fiji on a bilibili

Travellers can pick from the 200 or so scattered isolated islands that offer a brimming palette of environmentally sound options.

There are six established national parks, four of which can be found on the main island of Viti Levu. There are nature reserves for bird watching, unique species of iguanas, dense tropical rainforests with variations of flora and fauna from region to region.

There are thousands of plants with unique medicinal value like the ‘uci’ which is great for aroma therapy. There’s also the beautiful Tagimaucia flower which is unique to the volcanic craters of Fiji’s third largest island Taveuni.

Each natural reserve has unique features that attract travellers from all over world. The Sigatoka sand dunes have seen excavations by scientists in search of historical artefacts. Much of the dunes still store pieces of pottery and other signs of early Fijian life which tourists stumble upon. On the island of Vatulele, known for its unique red prawns, villagers have a special ceremony that “calls” the prawns to the surface. Abaca national park and the Colo i Suva national forest are a storehouse of native vegetation.

As Fiji continues to develop, locals have become more aware of the importance of preserving the natural environment and culturally-significant sites. In doing so, they are not only protecting Fiji for future generations but also creating vital new forms of employment and revenue generation for small communities.

Locals have over the years encouraged the promotion of these wonderful assets - thus protecting their heritage and increasing employment opportunities

Eco Tourism : MyFijiGuide.com

Fiji Ecotourism Association

The Fiji Ecotourism Association (FEA) was established 10 years ago but has been non-active at times. There are approximately 60 community managed ecotourism projects to date that include accommodation, tours, National Parks, marine areas, etc, around Fiji.

The association has grown from a conservation driven organisation to now helping regional communities develop ecotourism projects and adding value through environmental education, economic contribution, community resource ownership, etc.

The major activities are marketing and promoting ecotourism programs, encouraging regional involvement, protecting environmentally sensitive areas, assisting human resource training, etc.

The association also works with some NGOs, the ecotourism unit within the Ministry of Tourism, local marine coastal areas and the USP. Future challenges for the association are monitoring current ecotourism projects, encouraging and supporting future projects.

Google Policy: Don't promote products obtained from endangered or threatened species

Policy Home > Text ads > Content > Endangered Species

Don't promote products obtained from endangered or threatened species.

Advertising is not permitted for products obtained from endangered or threatened species. This includes, but is not limited to, the sale of products derived from elephants, sharks, tigers, whales, rhinoceroses, or dolphins.

Google AdWords Help Center

================================================

From: "Deanna Yick"
Sent: Tue, 15 Jul 2008
Subject: update re: AdWords policy

Hi John,

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to share the news that Google AdWords has implemented a new policy regarding endangered or threatened species, including sharks. This has been updated on our content policy page, which you can view here:
Google AdWords Help Center

Please let me know if you have any questions, and thanks again for your patience as our policy team worked through the process of evaluating and implementing this policy.

Best,
Deanna

Fiji (MAD) Sport Project - 14 days Adventure Trip - BootsnAll World Adventures

On an Intrepid (MAD) project make A Difference to a Community using the universal language of sport. When booking your trip, choose between rugby, netball, soccer, swimming or tennis coaching and take your passion for the sport to children and adults in schools and clubs at all levels. Based in Lautoka, this 14 day project is extremely rewarding and your knowledge, enthusiasm and skill can make a real difference to hundreds of people who may never have had any sports coaching in their lives. As well as coaching sessions you will also have the opportunity to train with local teams and clubs to improve you own skills and really get involved with the local community. After a hard week?s coaching Fiji you can chill out in the sea or relax on the beach in this beautiful and friendly island archipelago.

Itinerary

Day 1 Nadi/Lautoka

Arrive in Nadi to meet the rest of your group and your leader before transferring to your base in Lautoka, the second largest city in Fiji. Set against a backdrop of sugar cane fields, the town may be relatively big, but it's still laidback.

Day 2 Lautoka

Spend the day exploring Lautoka's sights and getting to know the area. It's a day of rest as well, so you'll have ample time to lounge by the pool and plan your coaching timetable with your leader.

Days 3-13 Coaching

Enjoy the daily routine of coaching as you get to know the local community and your fellow team members. Coaching timetables will depend on what sport you have selected but you will generally conduct 1-2 hour sessions, 3 times a day. Your morning and afternoon sessions will most likely be with school kids but you may find yourself pushing yourself in the evenings with local clubs.

Day 14 Nadi

Celebrate a great two weeks of coaching and new friends made - both in your team and locally. Return to Nadi where the journey comes to an end.

Fiji (MAD) Sport Project - 14 days Adventure Trip - BootsnAll World Adventures

Outdoor Adventure in Fiji - TripAdvisor

StuartTuiTai Lived and played in Fiji for 10 years now. Paraglide, body board and mountain bike most of Fiji!

May 1, 2006

based on 1 vote

This is a list of must-do activities in the Fiji Islands. To do them all you're gonna need a couple of visits

• Explore locations featured in this goList: Sigatoka, Fiji
• Category: Best of
• Traveler type: Culture, Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors, Repeat visitors, Beachgoers
• Appeals to: Couples/romantics, Honeymooners, Singles, Families with teenagers, Seniors, Active/adventure, Tourists
• Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
• Tags: Fiji, adventure, beach, waterfall, cruise, diving, mountain biking, snorkelling

1. Mountain bike to Bouma Waterfalls, Taveuni http://www.tuitai.com/activities.cfm
Awesome rainforest scenery and a lovely dirt road to cruise along. Beautiful waterfall to swim in and cool off at the end. Also one of the most successful community conservation projects in the world!

2. Whitewater Rafting Upper Navua Gorge http://www.riversfiji.com/navua.htm
In the remote highlands of Viti Levu lies one of the most unique river trips on earth. Slicing a deep chasm through the island's tropical interior, the Upper Navua River is our hidden pathway to a pristine tropical wilderness. Shrouded in lush rain forest, fed by countless waterfalls and protected by challenging rapids, the Upper Navua River is Fiji rafting at its best.

3. Body Boarding at the Sigatoka Sand Dunes Sigatoka, Coral Coast
One of only a couple of beach breaks in Fiji (all the big ones are reef breaks and gnarly!). Great fun and brilliant scenery in fornt of the black and gold sand dunes. Excellent beach/driftwood photography opps.

4. Dive the Rainbow Reef, Somosomo Straits Fiji, South Pacific
Possibly the best diving easily avaiable to shore based divers. Be careful of the strong currents that feed all that soft coral though, not a place for pure beginners!

Outdoor Adventure in Fiji - TripAdvisor