vEcotourism or Virtual Ecotourism
Street Address
4423 Lehigh Road
City
College Park
State/Province
Maryland
Postal/Zip Code
20740
Country
United States
Year innovation began
1998
Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant
Quality of benefit to the people of the desitination
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Indicate sector in which you principally work
Conservation/Preservation organization
Geographic location
Rural, Coast, Desert, Mountain, Rainforest, Multiple locations.
Main insight addressed
Incorporate sustainable practices
Name Your Project
vEcotourism or Virtual Ecotourism
Describe Your Idea
What is the goal of your innovation?
To broadly share an educational ecotourism experience which provides greater protection for local cultures and wildlife than does traditional ecotourism.
How does your approach support or embody geotourism?
vEcotourism provides an interactive, real-time tourism experience which, unlike traditional ecotourism, does not overwhelm tourist destinations with human disease, human culture, or human infrastructure such as roads and utilities. vEcotourism provides jobs for people in remote areas as tourguides and as storytellers and, thus, the vEcotourism model provides an economic incentive for people in these areas to protect the local human culture, the wildlife, and the wildlife habitat.
Describe your approach in detail. How is it innovative?
Chimp-n-Sea Wildlife Conservation Fund, a 501(c)(3) public organization, has developed and is refining a state-of-the art web-based technology which integrates traditional storytelling as a way to educate people around the world (the vEcotourist needs a browser and high-speed internet) and as a way to protect remote, culturally and biologically sensitive areas. Most people on the planet can't afford to go on an ecotour or, for that matter, any kind of tour. As internet availability spreads, vEcotourism promises an interactive, real-time experience which doesn't compromise the tourist destination. Furthermore, unlike traditional ecotourism, vEcotourism has a small carbon footprint. And the use in vEcotourism of traditional storytelling helps strengthen the tourists' imagination.
What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?
We're partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and we're currently in the pilot project phase, which is going great (!!). That said, we could use a few additional volunteers and a bit more funding...
In one sentence describe what kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.
vEcotourism has the capacity to change the way millions of people learn about the world and it can do so while protecting the world it describes.
Describe the degree of success of your approach to date. Clearly define how you measure quantitative and qualitative impact in terms of how your approach contributes to the sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How does your approach minimize negative impacts? 200 words or less
After several years of development, we are now testing the vEcotourism system in the field (in various locations in western Uganda). Each test showcases the latest features as well as the latest tours developed in remote locations of interest.
How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?
The vEcotourist has the pleasure of experiencing a location, its sights, sounds, legends, people, wildlife, and music, without potentially contributing to its demise.
Describe how your innovation helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area’s cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues. How do you motivate them to act responsibly in their future travel decisions?
A large part of the vEcotourism project is to teach about environmental issues. The tourguides know this and are knowledgeable in this area.
In what ways are local residents actively involved in your innovation, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?
Local residents can find employment through the vEcotourism system.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? What is the potential demand for your innovation?
Yes.
How is your initiative currently financed? If available, provide information on your finances and organization that could help others. Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff.
Donations.
What is your plan to expand your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.
One country at a time.
What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?
Chimp-n-Sea has several projects going and we're a pretty small operation. We need more volunteers, including web developers, accountants, and, generally, self-motivated folks with a good sense of humor and a belief that they can change the world. Also, we could use some more donations.
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.
Author, storyteller, and chief technology officer at a software corporation, Mark Laxer invented virtual ecotourism (vEcotourism). He is co-founder and President of Chimp-n-Sea.
What is the origin of your innovation? Tell your story.
In 2004, after six years of research, brainstorming, and technical development, Mark Laxer (co-founder of Chimp-n-Sea Wildlife Conservation Fund and Chief Technology Officer at a software company) invented the concept and coined the terms virtual ecotourism and vEcotourism. Mr. Laxer subsequently gave the intellectual property of the invention to Chimp-n-Sea.
Please write an overview of your project. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the Google map located on the competition homepage.
Chimp-n-Sea Wildlife Conservation Fund, a 501(c)(3) public organization, has developed and is refining a state-of-the art web-based technology which integrates traditional storytelling as a way to educate people around the world (the vEcotourist needs a browser and high-speed internet) and as a way to protect remote, culturally and biologically sensitive areas. Most people on the planet can't afford to go on an ecotour or, for that matter, any kind of tour. As internet availability spreads, vEcotourism promises an interactive, real-time experience which doesn't compromise the tourist destination. Furthermore, unlike traditional ecotourism, vEcotourism has a small carbon footprint. And the use in vEcotourism of traditional storytelling helps strengthen the tourists' imagination.
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