El Fuego del Sol GeoTourism EcoVillage, Dominican Republic www.elfuegodelsol.com

El Fuego del Sol provides cultural programming, voluntourism, and sustainable development excursions to our rural ranch site in the Eastern tourist region and across the island. Interactive historical, ecological, and cultural excursions connect tourists with local Dominicans and the unique qualities of life in the DR.

The Dominican Republic is the business and tourism center of the Caribbean, but international visitors are often unaware of the country’s rich GeoTourism options. The vast majority visit the beach, then go home.

Tours are coordinated from the EFdS facility, across the DR and into Haiti, visiting NGO social action sites in regions with the greatest human need and ...

Sobre ti

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Información de contacto

Title

Mr.

First name

Kevin

Last name

Adair

Your job title

President / Founder

Name of your organization

El Fuego del Sol GeoTourism EcoVillage

Organization type

Dominican Triple-Bottom-Line Business

Annual budget/currency

US $50,000 - $100,000

Mailing address

Please email or call

Telephone number

809-710-5381

Postal/Zip Code

Country

República Dominicana

Email address

Alternative email address

tu idea

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Esta será la dirección usada para marcar tu participación en el mapa.

Street Address

Higuey

City

Higuey

State/Province

La Altagracia

Postal/Zip Code

Country

República Dominicana

Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant

Quality of tourist experience and educational benefit to tourists , Quality of benefit to residents for the destination , Quality of tourism management by destination leadership , Quality of stewardship of the destination.

Organization size

Small (1 to 100 employees)

Indicate sector in which you principally work

Destination-stewardship business

Year innovation began

2005

Place your video embed code here from YouTube, Google Video and other video sharing websites. How to embed a video from YouTube.

Indicate sector in which you principally work

History, Living culture, Nature, Destination aesthetics, Culinary or agritourism, Adventure, Education, General tourism, General destination stewardship/management.

Name Your Project

El Fuego del Sol GeoTourism EcoVillage, Dominican Republic www.elfuegodelsol.com

Describe Your Idea

El Fuego del Sol provides cultural programming, voluntourism, and sustainable development excursions to our rural ranch site in the Eastern tourist region and across the island. Interactive historical, ecological, and cultural excursions connect tourists with local Dominicans and the unique qualities of life in the DR.
The Dominican Republic is the business and tourism center of the Caribbean, but international visitors are often unaware of the country’s rich GeoTourism options. The vast majority visit the beach, then go home.
Tours are coordinated from the EFdS facility, across the DR and into Haiti, visiting NGO social action sites in regions with the greatest human need and ...

BID/FOMIN

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Si perteneces a un pais de Latinoamerica y el Caribe tienes la oportunidad de presentar tu iniciativa para acceder a fondos para innovaciones en turismo sostenible del BID/FOMIN (para mayor informacion leer la seccion sobre la oportunidad BID/FOMIN en la pagina principal del Desafio).

Deseo postularme.

Si perteneces a un pais de Latinoamerica y el Caribe tienes la oportunidad de presentar tu iniciativa para acceder a fondos para innovaciones en turismo sostenible del BID/FOMIN (para mayor informacion leer la seccion sobre la oportunidad BID/FOMIN en la pagina principal del Desafio).

Consumidores (viajeros), Agentes detallistas, Operadores de Turismo, Prestatarios de servicios turísticos, Prestatarios de servicios no turísticos (proveedores), Grupos comunitarios autóctonos, Atractivos naturales y culturales.

Indica cuales de estas tematicas cubre tu innovacion (elige todas aquellas opciones que apliquen)

Planificación y Gestión de destinos, Innovación y diversificación en el desarrollo de productos turísticos, Profesionalización, buenas prácticas y certificación de servicios turísticos sostenibles, Estrategias y herramientas innovadoras para la promoción y puesta en mercado de destinos y productos en turismo sostenible y geoturismo..

Innovación

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What is the goal of your innovation? Please describe in one sentence the kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.

Connecting international visitors with our integrated, ecological, Fair-Trade community; exploring Dominican culture, history, geology, social outreach, innovation, and sustainable development.

Please write an overview of your project. Include how your approach supports or embodies geotourism or destination stewardship. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the map located on the competition homepage.

El Fuego del Sol provides cultural programming, voluntourism, and sustainable development excursions to our rural ranch site in the Eastern tourist region and across the island. Interactive historical, ecological, and cultural excursions connect tourists with local Dominicans and the unique qualities of life in the DR.

The Dominican Republic is the business and tourism center of the Caribbean, but international visitors are often unaware of the country’s rich GeoTourism options. The vast majority visit the beach, then go home.

Tours are coordinated from the EFdS facility, across the DR and into Haiti, visiting NGO social action sites in regions with the greatest human need and ecological risk. Trips are customized to connect with the specific interests of each visiting group, from colonial history to adventure tours to bird-watching to philanthropic travel. Our EcoIndustry center manufactures Sun Ovens which cook delicious food by the power of the sun, fighting deforestation and creating Fair-Trade jobs. The Sun Ovens produced are available for sale or tax-deductible donation for Dominicans in need, in conjunction with the project’s US-based non-profit partners. Our Outdoor Classroom program offers classes in English, Spanish and Ecology. All programs feature the use and demonstration of alternative energies and sustainable technologies.

Explain in detail why your approach is innovative

Four million tourists per year visit the Dominican Republic, but most only see the beach. Many never come to understand that the DR is a huge, culturally and historically rich country which forms the economic center of the entire Caribbean. The crucial Dollars that flow into the country from tourism mostly fly right out again into the hands of international developers and resort owners. Individual Dominicans miss most of the benefit of tourism commerce, and the huge financial gap between rich and poor Dominicans is perpetuated. Almost a million Dominicans drive luxurious cars while their fellow residents subsist far below international poverty standards. Globally, the DR is uniquely suited to leap forward in renewable energy initiatives: located only a two-hour flight from Miami, with a pro-business / pro-renewable energy / solidly Democratic government, in a nearly perfect sun and wind rich climate year-round. If a poor country like the DR could become energy independent, rich countries would likely follow this example. Costa Rica has 2,000,000 tourists per year, but the primary tourism there is ecotourism. EFdS is uniquely poised to provide international focus, economic opportunity, financial services, Fair Trade jobs, NGO facilitation and successful GeoTourism benefits to the DR.

Impacto

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Describe the degree of success you have had to date. How do you measure, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the impact on sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How has it transformed or contributed to the power of place or demonstrated the sustainability of tourism? How does your approach minimize negative impacts?

Our success is developing well. Connections have been made with local and international non-profit organizations, tour operators, US and DR governments, sustainable energy technology providers, and interested Dominican residents. Funding has been achieved for the donation of 56 Sun Ovens. We have established a matching program to offer Sun Ovens locally at discounted prices. Our project is unique in the area integrating beneficial programming with ecological residences. We have received media coverage from NPR’s Worldview and Conscious Choice Magazine. The websites are extensive. El Día Dominicano explores the Dominican past, present and future. The programming is likely to draw other tourism organizations to concentrate more on culture, history and ecology. We have introduced the concepts of Free Trade and Ethical Trade status to key officials of the DR government. Our use and donations of Sun Ovens offsets our own carbon footprints, and jobs created are Fair Trade labor. The ultimate goal is to create a community that will address the large problems of waste disposal and energy production on a country wide scale. If a country such as the DR can come from behind to achieve energy independence it can serve as an excellent example to more developed countries.

In what ways are local residents actively involved in your work, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?

Dominicans are involved in all aspects of our project, including the planning, programming and earning of employee-equity. We are also working closely with local social service organizations, including the Rotary Club, and Grupo Jaragua for our cultural and social programs. Under-privileged Dominicans benefit from our Sun Oven distribution and donations. And, our community includes volunteer hours to the nearby underserved area of Villa Hortencia. Every job that we create is a Fair Trade job. Our events create venues for genuine Dominican artists and natural product producers, including storytellers, painters, sculptors, and crafters of jellies, honey, sweet cheese and holistic remedies.

How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?

We offer classes and events developing connection with DR culture, ecology and Spanish language. Director of Educational Programming, D. Karim Johnson is creating the Outdoor Classroom program of El Fuego del Sol. Karim's program combines classroom time with the large ecological resources of EFdS. Diverse flora and fauna and the Sun Ovens on site form the basis of Karim's multi-disciplined approach to education. Classes are now available in English, Spanish, and Ecology. As the program grows, we willl involve more children and adults from the area and around the world. Evening programs feature cultural performances including traditional Perico Ripiao music.

Describe how your work helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area's cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues.

Most tourists do not leave the resort zones of the island. Few realize that the DR has over 500 years of cultural heritage, over 12,000,000 people and is larger than many northeastern states. Blog sites indicate that tourists are seeking to help Dominican people. Many Dominicans pay little attention to their own diverse heritage. Profit is key in the DR. Once cultural programming is shown to be profitable, it is likely to catch on as it has in other destinations. Once travelers understand the economic power of their choices, they are likely to make more beneficial choices in the future.

Esta presentación se trata de

Sustenibilidad

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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.

Initial payments originated from Real Estate profits in Chicago. The intention was to find financing in the DR, but after seeking Dominican financing options for over three years, and paying high DR interest, the project has recently been financed through a principals-backed US loan. The debt is less than 30% of the project value. We are seeking to refinance to generate funds to increase Sun Oven production and complete the tax-exempt product certification. We have multiple income sources: micro-lending, Sun Oven business, events for tourists, ecological weddings, rental income from residents / business tenants, and a proposed organic restaurant. EFdS has a Dominican staff that ranges from three to 15 depending on need. Over 50 Dominicans have financially benefited from the program so far, including our Sun Oven manufacturers. Our expenses are currently $850 per month; we expect to break-even this year with profits increasing in years to come.

Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? Is there a potential demand for your innovation?

EFdS will be an optimum example of triple-bottom-line business. A strong profit potential is crucial since sustainability requires we are not dependant on donations. By simultaneously dedicating our efforts to improving ecological and social environments, we are open to the new markets of sustainable / renewable products that are encouraged by new regulations, but have only been sparsely applied in the DR. Tourists say they are seeking opportunities to help the Dominican population. We have the programs to facilitate that support. Potential clients include the 1.5 million visitors in the area annually and the additional market sector of GeoTourists worldwide.

What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?

DR regulations and customs procedures are difficult to navigate. However with 3.5 years active experience, initial issues are conquered. Scarce Dominican financing continues to be the greatest limiting factor for our development. Local banks are only willing to finance equity up to 30% of land value, and they charge prohibitive interest rates and application fees. We have completed our purchase of the former motel property, have the titles in hand, and seek financing options.

We are looking to increase our local and international exposure, and increase our long term relationships with tour operators to increase frequency of tourist group visits and increase frequency of El Día Dominicano cultural / historical events.

The delay and fees associated with the renewable energy certification process of our Sun Ovens has slowed down the effectiveness of our solar cooking process. Now we are working to add additional NGO partners as we work to maintain current partnerships in consideration of the various delays. Everything in the DR takes much more time and paperwork than in most other locations. There are laws being implemented this summer to improve and streamline business process in the DR, but the process has taken much more time than expected.

What is your plan to expand or further develop your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.

Our micro-financing program: www.carefulloans.net will build on the example of kiva.org, but pay our investors from 6-12% on funds that we lend out locally. Private DR lenders charge crippling annual percentage rates of well over 100%.

We are interested in hosting international sustainability events at EFdS. We have space available for additional residents and ecological businesses at our facility. We are seeking future-minded, ecologically conscious sponsors / additional financing for individual events, project divisions and the project as a whole. The network of individuals, ecoindustries, NGOs and financing could serve as an exportable example for developing locations around the world.

La historia

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Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.

Kevin Adair develops ecological projects, tourism / entertainment events, and business presentations. Clients include Hyatt Hotels, Sunscape Resorts, and the City of Chicago. Kevin has presented on NBC’s Today Show and ABC’s Good Morning America. Kevin owned, developed, promoted and sold 11 properties in the US. Kevin graduated Cum Laude from Illinois Wesleyan University. After years work in the US, Kevin came to the Dominican Republic to provide entertainment for four hotels. He was amazed at the country’s beauty and stark poverty. Kevin decided to make a social and ecological difference and is now a legal resident of the DR.

What is the origin of your innovation? Tell the Changemakers and media communities what prompted you to start this initiative.

After years of touring the US, promoting ecological development, performing shows, and giving business presentations, I received the dream call: to perform for 4 tropical resorts in the Dominican Republic. The job was great-- only 4 nights a week! I lived as a guest in the ultra-luxurious resorts. But I found that I couldn’t just sit by the beach all day. I felt the call to do something constructive, ecological and beneficial.

I saw extensive poverty on the ride between resorts: miles of concrete roofs baking in the sun, but no alternative energy. I decided to build and distribute Sun Ovens which cook delicious food by the power of the sun. I envisioned El Fuego del Sol, a GeoTourism destination, offering ecological development, socially conscious tours across the country, voluntourism and Fair Trade jobs.

I befriended a young man working as a taxi-driver. He brought me home to meet his family. I enjoyed real Dominican food that tasted better than the best resort food. Together we visited many available properties in the region. I decided on a large former motel, close to where my friend grew up. The property was sprawling and beautiful with fruit trees and many native plants growing inside the surrounding walls. It had been closed for 10 years. Turning the old motel into our GeoTourism ranch would be a recycling act in itself. We have transformed the property into an ecological garden, horse ranch, and event center with guest cabins and camping.

The property also has space for our Sun Oven factory. We sent a shipment of Sun Oven parts down in early 2006. We have now constructed 400 ovens and raised funds through our US NGO partners to donate over 50 of them. We first opened our factory in a Zona Franca to reduce customs fees on the ovens that would be donated. Now that the DR has passed renewable energy law 57-07 and joined CAFTA-RD, we have been informed by the National Energy Commission that our ovens certify as tax-free.

We are ready to significantly expand our project, but we have been hampered by the lack of financing options in the country. The banks have said that they don’t know how to approach our project because we don’t fit into any of their categories. It is difficult to be the first fully dedicated ecological GeoTourism project in the country.

We have created connections and partnerships with many of the NGOs working in the DR. One of our purposes is to help social outreach organizations work more effectively, through better communication between agencies and by networking with the global tourism community. We are also reaching out to the international business community to encourage developing renewable solutions in the DR. Decisions are being made as to how to initially develop much of the country. If those decisions can be made ecologically, the DR can set the international standard and become a GeoTourism industry leader, not just a bargain place to visit the beach.

Describe some unique tourist experiences that your approach provides. Be specific; give illustrative examples.

We coordinate day excursions in and around EFdS, and multi-day tours throughout the country and into Haiti. Tours are customized to focus on individual aspects of GeoTourism catering to each group’s preferences. Priorities include:

Social Action Sites and the work of community organizations/NGOs to help the poor

Voluntourism (work trips) / Philanthropic Travel and/or Projects in urban revitalization

Sites and stories of particular historical interest including the history of the native Taino People, the Colonial / Christopher Columbus era, pirates tales, the battles for independence, and the current period as a successful Democracy.

Cultural sites and Museums including the work of local artists

Ecological Development and Conservation Sites and Projects (Including specific trips for bird watching, exploring endangered species, and all flora and fauna of the DR.)

Adventure trips i.e.: mountain biking, spelunking, rafting, canyoning, rock climbing, orienteering, hiking, and horse-back riding.

Dominican Religious Services and Holidays.

Visits often include the National Basilica in Higuey (featured on the RD$50 bill). The oral history of the region is shared, including the Miracle of Altagracia which inspired the construction of this national landmark. Tours feature local neighborhoods, markets, farms, mountains, rivers, natural parks, and some of the Caribbean’s most beautiful secluded beaches.

What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?

Tour operators, travel agents, EcoTours, camping groups. Professional trade groups and clusters. Government programs. International development: the UN, IADB, USAID. NGOs: The Nature Conservancy, Faith in Place, Rotary International, with programs in the DR or Haiti interested in reducing their missions’ carbon footprints with Sun Ovens. Media (local and international): including NPR and Conscious Choice magazine. Congregations and social service organizations looking for a site to base their work-trip. International Dominican and Haitian groups working abroad for the development of their home countries. Renewable, sustainable, alternative energy and building solution providers. Other EcoVillages and EcoLodges. Real Estate agents. Visionaries.

AdjuntoTamaño
SunOvenDonation.JPG75.23 KB
Sr. y Sra. Domingo.jpg81.42 KB
El Fuego del Sol Events.jpg185.12 KB
outdoor group.jpg75.18 KB
Outdoor Class.jpg47.54 KB
El Fuego Lagoon.jpg254.06 KB
El Fuego Horse.jpg330.08 KB

Comentarios

Kevin Adair profile img
Jue, 04/16/2009 - 17:44

Our location was chosen because we are less than an hour from the primary tourist locations of the country, but we are still in an area that is rural in the countryside.

The great Dominican disparity between the income levels is clearest in regions such as ours. When groups come for a week long experience, we are able to lead them across the country and into Haiti to truly grasp the systemic issues of the region. But, for those who are only looking to spend a day exploring before retuning to the beach, we offer the first step in truly connecting to the local culture and economy. We hope that once people visit for a day excursion, a window of understanding will be opened for those visitors. They may then return in the future to experience a multi-day experience. Or they may know of others in their home community that are looking for deeper connections to a developing economy, and they might send them our way.

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Kevin Adair

Kevin Adair profile img
Jue, 04/16/2009 - 18:29

We always include and involve many Dominicans in our programs. Each new outreach to deliver Sun Ovens, and each new tour throughout the country, connects our project to more local Dominicans, who are always welcome to participate along with our international visitors. For example, one amazing concept from our recent trip to Haiti was that we were able to feed our group AND all of the volunteers at a local community center near the Haitian Border run by our partners, Grupo Jaragua, for LESS THAN HALF THE COST of feeding only the group members in a reasonably priced restaurant that we had visited earlier in the trip. Plus, I thought the sun-cooked food prepared by the community center volunteers tasted so much better! Regarding more specifics of our program, I’m now editing the video of the experience that we shared with the group from the University of San Francisco. That will be up at the competition’s website soon, as well as our home site of www.elfuelgodelsol.com. Please check back in for that update in the next few weeks. Finally, I started my answer to your posting above, in its own comment, so please see the other answers to your questions there. Thanks for your kind words and interest in El Fuego del Sol!

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Kevin Adair

Kevin Adair profile img
Sáb, 05/16/2009 - 11:19

I appreciate your detailed look at our information and everything you said! And, yes, we hope to be an exportable example of ecological development. Our Open-Source process is a key part of our plan for the future. Visitors are always welcome, and all questions are encouraged. The coalition of organizations that we create, the technology that we display and test, and the innovations that we initiate will all be available for implementation in any other developing country in the world. We are creating our solutions to be modular, so some parts will be more appropriate in some locations, and some in others. Each location’s particulars will be included in each application. For example, our location is rich in water resources, plenty of runoff, springs, ponds, streams and available aquifers. So, for the foreseeable future, we just need to ecologically purify the water that is here. Other more arid climates would need to consider water re-use in their EcoVillage design. Any ecological technology manufacturer in the world is welcome to test their product, projects and concepts at El Fuego del Sol!

Everyone is welcome to participate.

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Kevin Adair

Kevin Adair profile img
Sáb, 05/16/2009 - 11:21

Yves, I visited your website and you are doing amazing work. I see you visited our entry, but I don't see a specific comment. Please feel free to ask any question of the El Fuego del Sol staff, or share any idea. And thanks again for your visit.

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Kevin Adair

Kevin Adair profile img
Sáb, 05/16/2009 - 19:34

Karim,

The entire staff of El Fuego del Sol is honored to have you sharing in the creation of our community. With your extensive educational an youth-programming background, your participation is a perfect fit. I’m excited to see each aspect of the Outdoor Classroom program develop and germinate. The dedication that you have showed by bringing your family to join us as permanent residents of our community exemplifies the excellent educational and developmental opportunities for participants of all ages at EFdS. You are setting the example for all future partners in the program. Just as you are now leading programs here, we encourage others to develop programs that benefit others, and coordinate these new programs to work in conjunction with our existing programs. Just as your program started in the States and made the leap to the DR, so we hope that others are inspired to follow in your footsteps. Continuing thanks!

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Kevin Adair

Kevin Adair profile img
Mar, 05/19/2009 - 16:16

Dad,

You and Mom have been amazing throughout this project in the Dominican Republic. As you know we’ve had some difficult times with this project, but your support has been crucial to the project’s success. Mom is always there for both of us. And. I couldn’t believe your stamina at this year’s Chicago Public Radio’s Worldview Global Activism Expo. To see the excitement on your face as you were constantly inviting people to learn more about the Sun Oven by proclaiming, “It cooks with sunshine!” is a day and a sight that I don’t think I’ll ever forget. Your energy was amazing, and to think you’ve been retired for a few years now after you long career. Constant Thanks and Love to you both!

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Kevin Adair

Kevin Adair profile img
Mar, 05/19/2009 - 17:02

Patty,

Thanks for both your nomination and your suggestion. I know that the Changemakers developers are paying close attention to the comments that people make in order to always improve the experience at the site. Other people have mentioned that they have had similar difficulties.

Thanks for calling this to everyone's attention. I understand that part of the difficulty in the nomination/comment process is to discourage spammers from taking over the site with auto-responder programs. It's sad that spammers make so many things more difficult for all of us.

At El Fuego del Sol, we're thrilled to be in the GeoTourism Challenge, and we greatly appreciate all of the work of the organizers as well as the work that you have done to make sure your input was heard. Now that you are a verified member of the Changemakers community, all future posts and voting should be much easier.

Thanks again,

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Kevin Adair

Kevin Adair profile img
Mié, 05/20/2009 - 11:35

Thanks for expanding the forum of the competition. The questions and suggestions that are being raised are inviting even more detail about our project. Yes, we have Dominican share holders and we are open to more. Our Dominican general manager, Elvin Mejia, is now a 2% owner of the company and project. His dedication has been amazing over the past three years. Also the gentleman from whom we are purchasing most of the land is a 1% owner in the company. As we grow, the plan is for more stock ownership for workers in the project from the DR and abroad. We have plans for home ownership for employees when that stage of the project is further along. We are open to involving others at all levels. We hope that as our visibility increases, we will be attracting more investors in the project locally and internationally. The goal is creating a network of interested, involved and invested folk from around the world. That success can then be replicated in the DR, in Haiti, and in other developing countries. Another related concept is that we are working with eco NGOs, individuals, the DR government and other companies throughout the DR to create a Geotourism Network. We are located only an hour’s drive from 50 major hotels. We hope people will plan a day trip to our location when they come to the DR, they can ask their tour operator for details, but we hope that they won’t stop at just one visit to us. From here we can direct interested tourists to associated locations around the DR and even into Haiti. Visitors can camp now at our location for as long as they like, and/or use El Fuego del Sol as the basecamp for work-trips in our area, or geotourism trips around the island. There are many ways that we are sharing the benefits of geotourism with local Dominicans, and we are always open to incorporating more more ideas.
Thanks again,
Kevin

Kevin Adair profile img
Mié, 05/20/2009 - 11:39

Hi Kevin,
I'm very pleased to hear, that you plan to involve employees (home ownership), because this world will only become a fair world, if workers get their fair share. Obviously I don't know the exact structure of the companies owning the whole operation, so it is a bit hard to make suggestions. But if there is a possibility of share issues, which build up over time in number of shares, that could be a starting point. If employees have the ability and can elect to buy some shares on a regular base from their working incomes, during their employment, they can build up their own assets. Your gain would be, that there is a wider funding base and that hopefully the employees holding shares show a stronger interest in the work they do for their "own" company (e. g. staff retention). A next (or simultaneous) step could be, that the government gives financial support via tax breaks for the employees, or via a subsidy on the share price. The governments gain would be in the "seed" capital building up over time. Because the locals gain not only a fair living via the fair trade jobs, but can build up funds for improvement of their own or their kid's education, then the next cycle of improvement of their livelihood starts._Couldn't it be justified to support such options as part of sustainable tourism. If I were a tourist and know, that I'm not only holidaying somewhere, where locals get fair jobs, but participate in the ownership to a fair degree, then I would feel, I'm actually having a positive long-term effect with my stay in the hotel/resort... Maybe I would even consider to pay something extra, if I knew, this money went straight into a fund which subsidises share purchases of local employees. Obviously such a scheme would need a very sound base, probably with the participation of a third party. I do realise you and your team are having plenty of work and engagement to invest, to make the project work as it is, but maybe there are people out there, who could be the third party.

Kevin Adair profile img
Mié, 05/20/2009 - 11:41

Hi Robert, Right now the system we have is simple and basic. Those that work for us for a year or more start to develop stock ownership and credits toward housing units on the property. I don’t know of any government programs such as the one you mentioned, but we are open to programs from individuals, NGOs, or the government that would bring more benefit to and connection with our employees. We are also planning a stock options program for employees in the future. We are pricing our most basic housing units to be affordable for our employees, for Dominicans and internationals looking to own their first home.

Kevin