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Adventure Life - Galapagos Traveler-Funding Program
Ubicación
Adventure Life is an active member of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, (IGTOA). Together we have created an effective way for the travel industry to help support Galapagos conservation. The travel industry and those who visit the Galapagos must meet the challenge of preserving this world heritage. In Nov. 2006, together with IGTOA, we launched a Galapagos traveler-funding program. The program is simple: A minimum $50 voluntary donation is added to all of Adventure Life’s Galapagos travelers’ invoices. 40% of this donation goes to IGTOA and 60% goes to the Charles Darwin Foundation. Dollar for dollar, Adventure Life matches these donations with travel vouchers for future trips with our company. Out of IGTOA’s 50+ members, there are seven tour operators that are participating in this specific program. Adventure Life has proven the most successful in its fundraising efforts, spearheading this program and contributing far more than any other company.
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Street Address
1655 South 3rd St. W., Suite 1
City
Missoula
State/Province
MT
Postal/Zip Code
59801
Country
Estados Unidos
Year innovation began
2006
Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant
Quality of tourism management and impact on the destination
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Indicate sector in which you principally work
Tourism-related business
Geographic location
Multiple locations.
Marca tu innovación dentro del Mosaico de soluciones
Main insight addressed
Incorporate sustainable practices
Name Your Project
Adventure Life - Galapagos Traveler-Funding Program
Describe Your Idea
Adventure Life is an active member of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, (IGTOA). Together we have created an effective way for the travel industry to help support Galapagos conservation. The travel industry and those who visit the Galapagos must meet the challenge of preserving this world heritage. In Nov. 2006, together with IGTOA, we launched a Galapagos traveler-funding program. The program is simple: A minimum $50 voluntary donation is added to all of Adventure Life’s Galapagos travelers’ invoices. 40% of this donation goes to IGTOA and 60% goes to the Charles Darwin Foundation. Dollar for dollar, Adventure Life matches these donations with travel vouchers for future trips with our company. Out of IGTOA’s 50+ members, there are seven tour operators that are participating in this specific program. Adventure Life has proven the most successful in its fundraising efforts, spearheading this program and contributing far more than any other company.
Innovación
What is the goal of your innovation?
To provide simple and reliable means for travelers to support Galapagos conservation, and keep funds focused on projects proven effective.
How does your approach support or embody geotourism?
Adventure Life is an active member of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA). Together we have created an effective way for the travel industry to help support Galapagos conservation. The travel industry and those who visit the Galapagos must meet the challenge of preserving this world heritage. In Nov. 2006, together with IGTOA, we launched a Galapagos traveler-funding program. This program is designed to raise money for conservation and education projects implemented by IGTOA and the Galapagos Conservancy (GC), which supports the work of the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF). These are established and respected organizations that have been actively operating in the islands for years. But more importantly, they are effective organizations; we are determined that our fundraising program goes far beyond a “feel-good” or abstract contribution towards Galapagos conservations. Adventure Life’s fund-raising program is dedicated to providing substantial funds to the projects in operations through the Galapagos Conservancy and IGTOA. But furthermore, it is about actively involving and education our travelers on the challenges facing the Galapagos, and provide them with information on promising solutions. The goal is to shape tourism into a positive force.
Describe your approach in detail. How is it innovative?
The program is simple: A minimum $50 voluntary donation is added to all of our Galapagos travelers’ invoices. 40% of this donation goes to IGTOA, 60% goes to the Galapagos Conservancy. Dollar for dollar, Adventure Life matches these donations with travel vouchers for a future trip. Our role as a tour operator is essential for the success of this unique program. The relationships Adventure Life has established with our travelers assures them that the requested donation is of significant importance, and that we have carefully selected these organizations with confidence that they will put our travelers’ money to good work. Without the relationship between tour operator and traveler, it would be difficult for IGTOA and Galapagos Conservancy to effectively access the large numbers of Galapagos visitors. Furthermore, we also have access to them at a critical time: before their travels begin, when they are researching their destination and getting excited about their up-coming adventure. After they return from their trip, travelers – understandably – get caught up in their own world again, lost work and life; it is much harder to get their attention at this point. Even those with the best of intentions are easily lost in the “daily grind.”
What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?
Fellow Galapagos tour operators looking to introduce sustainability projects in the islands would benefit from participating in this program. We’ve already attempted to spread this program to fellow IGTOA members. To help the ball rolling, we have candidly opened our operations to our competitors to show exactly how the program works and is managed at Adventure Life. Other NGO’s interested in generating consistent funds for existing projects would also benefit from a similar program design. With the success of this Galapagos fundraising, Adventure Life has already started looking at expanding this program to all the destinations we send our travelers.
Impacto
In one sentence describe what kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.
Involve travelers in the protection of the islands and make tourism an effective participant in preserving the fragile Galapagos.
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
Out of IGTOA’s 50+ members, there are 7 companies (including Adventure Life) that are participating in this program. Adventure Life has proven the most successful in our fundraising efforts, spearheading this program and contributing far more than any other company. Since Nov. 2006, our travelers have raising nearly $30,000 to date. Including the donations from all seven IGTOA members, the program has so far raised roughly $50,000 for IGTOA and the Galapagos Conservancy’s projects – Adventure Life alone has raised almost 60% of this entire sum. We estimate our donation to gross $100,000 by 2010. Exciting numbers indeed! Projects this money supports includes and the Galapagos Conservancy’s 2006-07 agenda: 1. Local Capacity for Conservation and Sustainable Development 2. Planning and Policy for Effective Conservation 3. Control and Elimination of Invasive Species 4. Ensure Effective Management of the Galapagos Marine Reserve. And funds support IGTOA’s conservation and professional standards. We have seen time and time again that travelers want to give back to the places they visit, but many do know how, or which organization to donate to. This program is not only easy, it is also effective at raising significant funds – and keeps donations focused on projects and organizations proven effective.
How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?
To engage our travelers, our Galapagos clients are supplied with the following on island conservation: 1. Details on the challenges facing the islands (including the role of tourism), why their donations are important, and how travelers can be part of the solution 2. Galapagos Inspection and Quarantine regulations, regulated by SICGAL 3. Dos and Don’ts of responsible travel 4. DVD/mini-documentary on issues of Galapagos survival (currently in production). During their trip, travelers visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Travelers who donate also receive a one-year membership to Galapagos Conservancy, which encourages further interaction with the organization and its conservation efforts.
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?
Human migration is a growing concern in the islands. One of the GC’s projects that our travelers’ donations support includes changing the mindsets of local communities into a conservation-based culture by developing sustainable livelihoods, educational reform and strengthening local institutions. Our program is about much more than simply fundraising – it is our responsibility to education and demonstrate to our travelers how their visit can be instrumental for Galapagos conservation. And quite simply, their trip illustrates how they can easily participate in sustainable travel – without sacrificing hospitality or comfort.
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?
Conservation efforts are nearly impossible without local community involvement – and the Galapagos is certainly no exception. Our program is helping to fund the GC’s commitment to building local capacity for a sustainable future in the Galapagos. A few examples include supporting the development of small and medium-sized businesses that are compatible with and linked to the long-term protection of the Galapagos. And education is just as important to travelers as it is to the local communities – the GC is particularly focused on education the younger generation to thrive in a conservation-based economy.
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Sustenibilidad
Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? What is the potential demand for your innovation?
Adventure Life’s expenses are at a minimum as donations are made to IGTOA and GC from our travelers. We do match donations, dollar for dollar, with a travel voucher for a future trip with our company: thus far this amount comes to $29,300. We have happily discovered, that time involved managing the program does not exceed 50 hours per year. The Galapagos Travel-Funding program has been very effective for us and very simple, to not only implement, but also to maintain. As long as we continue to promote this program and the importance of Galapagos conservation, the future looks bright.
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.
Our financial controller spends one day, ever quarter – mailing our clients who have contributed to the program – a travel voucher that matches their donation and a thank you letter. This is the same time that payment and contact information are sent to IGTOA and GC. This is the most time-consuming portion of the entire process, but only done four times per year, and is quite manageable. Specific finances for managing this program include: 1. Work hours: 10-12 hours per quarter 2. Personalized card + mailing expenses: >$1.00 3. Travel vouchers that match donation: roughly $50/traveler. Current total = $29,300. Expenses for designing and printing the promotional flyer are covered by IGTOA. Ideally, we would like to send the vouchers and thank-you cards to clients the day they depart for their trip, so it is waiting for them when they return home. But we are still working on this.
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.
Adventure Life has already started looking at ways we can expand this program design to all of our trips, no longer limited it to Galapagos-specific travelers. There are a number of other sustainable organizations in varying Latin America countries we would love to see benefit from our fundraising efforts. And we encourage other IGTOA members to participate in the program and are always open to sharing advice or answering questions from our competitors on how we implemented, communicate with our travelers about the program, and how it is currently managed within our office.
What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?
The donation is voluntary – travelers are welcome to remove the minimum $50 donation from their invoice, or they are certainly welcome to donate more. The response has been quite positive: roughly 60% of our travelers decide to donate at least the minimum $50. But the challenge is how we can increase this number to 100%. Since the program began, we’ve heard one primary issue from our clients: Why would I donate before my trip? Shouldn’t I see for myself why the donation is important and then contribute after my travels? This is an issue we struggle with – but we are concerned that funds would decrease if we approached travelers after they return from their trip; it is much harder to get their attention at this point. Adventure Life primarily sees this issue as a limitation in our education approach. We are looking at ways we can even further invite our travelers to learn more about the program, its effectiveness and why it is so important. The other barrier we encounter is encouraging other IGTOA members and tour operators to implement this program, or one of their own choice that supports Galapagos conservation. The more the merrier!
La historia
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.
My name is Brian Morgan; I began Adventure Life in Missoula, MT after returning from living and working in Ecuador and Peru. Using my experiences as an independent traveler – and lots of help for Ecuadorian and Peruvian friends – I ran my first trip in 1999. We’ve done our best to try and give back to the places and people that have inspired our company from the very start. Their success is our success. From the start, I introduced a number of self-imposed guidelines to ensure that each itinerary has a positive impact on the local culture and environment.
What is the origin of your innovation? Tell your story.
IGTOA is a nonprofit association of travel companies, conservation organizations, and other groups that seek a lasting protection of the Galapagos Islands. They lobby for conservation, fund projects, and promote and practice sustainable tourism. Prior to 2006, Adventure Life, like all tour operators that are IGTOA members, were donating $5/per traveler they sent to the islands – but furthermore, a cap of $2500 was put on the contribution. This was limiting not only to the amount of donations generated directly from tourism, but it was also doing very little to maintain IGTOA and its most influential projects in the islands. IGTOA is roughly 20 years old, and prior to 2006, struggled with supporting its staff, important projects and ongoing goals. As a responsible tour operator, it is simply necessary that we protect the region that is so treasured – not only by our travelers – but also throughout varying communities across the world from biologists to historians. An annual $2500 donation was simply not enough to be effective. There had to be a better way to raise money for Galapagos conservation. In 2005, the IGTOA members took a new look at fundraising in the Galapagos. There is certainly no shortage of travelers; IGTOA members themselves send between 10,000-20,000 travelers to the islands a year. Inspired by elements of a program implemented by Lindblad Expeditions, IGTOA and its board members designed the Galapagos Travel-Funding program. Providing funds to the Galapagos Conservancy was an easy choice for the program. The Galapagos Conservancy/CDF has carried out research for conservation of the Galapagos ecosystem for almost 50 years. They have been a leader in conservation science and the practical application of information gained and lessons learned in Galapagos, and are one of the most respected non-profit research organizations currently in operation. Fundraising possibilities suddenly went from $2500 to ten times this amount! The program implementation of the new program was stalled in 2005, but was officially launched in Nov. 2006. There are seven other IGTOA tour operators that are currently participating in this program, but the majority continues to donate a flat rate of $5/per traveler. Part of the struggle is simply inertia. Starting a new project is never easy; there are concerns about management and overall goals and effectiveness. We continue to encourage others to participate in the program and are excited at what the future will bring.
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.
Adventure Life is an active member of the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association, (IGTOA). Together we have created an effective way for the travel industry to help support Galapagos conservation. The travel industry and those who visit the Galapagos must meet the challenge of preserving this world heritage. In Nov. 2006, together with IGTOA, we launched a Galapagos traveler-funding program. The program is simple: A minimum $50 voluntary donation is added to all of Adventure Life’s Galapagos travelers’ invoices. 40% of this donation goes to IGTOA and 60% goes to the Charles Darwin Foundation. Dollar for dollar, Adventure Life matches these donations with travel vouchers for future trips with our company. Out of IGTOA’s 50+ members, there are seven tour operators that are participating in this specific program. Adventure Life has proven the most successful in its fundraising efforts, spearheading this program and contributing far more than any other company.
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Comentarios
As an employee, and a sales agent here who spends countless hours on the phone with prospective travelers, I am proud to represent and even brag about our company's efforts to increase Galapagos conservation aware and promote a financing program that is actually producing effective results. Not many companies view conserving the regions they use for their industry and a viable expense, but Adventure Life sees it as a non-negotiable must. If we desire to have any future in the travel industry, then we must be actively involved in helping to protect and sustain that resource that is so key to our company's very success. It is long-sighted thinking and responsible business practice, and I am proud to say I am an employee here. It makes the "selling" easy, as our company's efforts speak for itself.
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I an Adventure Coordinator here and spend countless hours on the phone with prospective travelers. I am proud to represent and even brag about our company's efforts to increase Galapagos conservation awareness and promote a financing program that is actually producing effective results. Not many companies view conservation of the regions used in their industry as a viable expense, but Adventure Life sees it as a non-negotiable must. If we desire to have any future in the travel industry, then we must be actively involved in helping to protect and sustain that resource that is so key to our company's very success. It is long-sighted thinking and responsible business practice, and I am proud to say I am an employee here. It makes the "selling" easy, as our company's efforts speak for itself.
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The debate on tourism's effects on the Galagagos is ongoing. Here you have a unique and fragile ecosystem that has inspired science over the past century but has also been exploited by foreign and domestic entities, such as the fishing industry.
Tourism allows travelers to visit this area and to witness first hand the diversity and extraordinary story of nature's ability to adapt and change to survive in this isolated and harsh environment. Travelers often leave as advocates for conservation of the archipelago and in turn, encourage the international community's demand to protect the Galapagos.
With that said, there is a "dark side to tourism" as more and more people are visiting this fragile archipelago, resulting in an increased impact on the landscape, pollution, and population growth as Ecuadorians from the mainland are attracted to the prospects of making a "quick buck".
Having been to the Galapagos and considering that I work for a travel company, I will personally say that tourism is important to the survival of the Galapagos, but tourism should be more regulated and even forced to be more responsible in protecting the environment that provides the industry's livelihood as well as support the local communities in the Galapagos. Organizations like the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA) is one such example of an organization that encourages its members to look at the "big picture" instead of just the "bottom line".
Travelers should also contribute back to the Galapagos, and the Traveler-Funding program that IGTOA has started is a great tool for promoting financial contributions from the travelers that are learning about the Galapagos and enjoying their holidays with friends and families. It is a voluntary gift that allows the traveler to say "Thank you, Galapagos, for giving me this experience" and helping ensure that the Galapagos is protected and will be there for the next traveler who comes.
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I have always been fascinated with the Galapagos Islands. From the moment I heard first mention of Charles Darwin's name and his theory of evolution, I knew that his old stomping grounds would be a place that I would love to explore. This interest was peaked enormously when I took my first anthropology class in college-human evolution-where I realized just how truly special a place like the Galapagos Islands really is.
Luckily, I got to see these incredible islands first hand in the fall of 2007. I was traveling around Ecuador, working on organic farms and teaching English, when I received word from my parents that they would be meeting me in Guayaquil and we would be continuing onto the Galapagos. I was elated--I had initially convinced myself that the closest to the Galapagos I would get would be hearing my fellow travelers' stories, but now I was going to experience the islands first hand.
The trip to Ecuador was my parents' first encounter with Latin American culture. It made me proud to know that I had helped them overcome a cultural barrier, and from the moment we arrived at the Baltra airport they soaked up every little ounce of Galapageno culture they could.
I think it is really important for every human being to be able to experience true, raw, natural beauty like that found in the Galapagos. There is something incredibly humbling about snorkeling with sea lions or seeing a pod of orcas play with your tiny boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The magnitude of biodiversity seen in the Galapagos islands truly indicates the complexity of life-and the reality that we are just another species filling a biological niche.
Preserving these spectacular islands is important not only from a biological sense but also from a historical sense. While it IS incredibly important that people are able to witness this unreal biological heaven, it is equally important to take every means possible to leave them untouched and untainted. I am lucky enough to work for a company who not only promotes this sustainability but who also creates an environmental awareness with all of its travelers who are lucky enough to see the raw beauty of the Galapagos Islands.
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As a voting member of IGTOA a few years back, I had the unique opportunity to vote on how IGTOA funds would be used for conservation projects in the Galapagos. At that time, the travel funding program did not exist. The total budget that we had available for conservation projects was less than the amount Adventure Life has collected in a single year through the traveler's funding program. It was such a challenge to weigh where our dollars would have the most successful impact. What a frustration to have to say no to many worthwhile project ideas because of a lack of funds! I'm so proud of the money travelers have raised through IGTOA. The Galapagos Islands are a magical world with a complex array of conservation challenges. Every dollar makes a huge difference and it's great to see such an influx of funds dedicated to these much-needed efforts!
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Yes indeed! Adventure Life's president Brian Morgan and one of our Travel Specialists, Renee Noffke, were just at the annual IGTOA meeting in Ecuador last week where voting for future projects and program funding were just a few of the topics on the agenda. The budget for project funding has certainly changed for the better -- but there are certainly always room for improvement. We only look forward to what the future will bring.
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Travel well.
Beth Conway
Adventure Life
www.Adventure-Life.com
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Great information! I'm going to start booking my vacations through organisms like Adventure life. I didn't even know things like this existed. Thanks again.
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Thanks John -- it's truly our pleasure to provide this program for our travelers! I think we're right on track (fingers crossed) to reach $100,000 by the end of 2010. It's very exciting to learn that we've introduced you to some of the happenings in the geotourism-world. Hopefully this forum/challenge with help spread the good-word about other initiatives in the industry as well...
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Travel well.
Beth Conway
Adventure Life
www.Adventure-Life.com
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I praise Adventure Life for its Galapagos Traveler-Funding Program. The Galapagos are fragile, and conservation efforts are very necessary for the survival of the islands and its species. The fact that Adventure Life assures that 100% of traveler's money goes to proven organizations like IGTOA puts this program over the top. I think it should be implemented by all companies, outfitters and organizations that travel to the Galapagos.
Well done, Adventure Life!!!
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Many thanks for your comments! Yes - the islands are indeed fragile and conservation and education efforts are needed, but furthermore, as a tour operator sending travelers to the Galapagos, it is truly our responsibility take active steps towards conservation in the Galapagos -- especially since tourism is so closely associated with the islands successes and struggles. It is true, tourism has provided the primary reason for conservation of the Galapagos Islands. Travelers are an important source of jobs and foreign exchange. Without visitors, there would be little defense against outright exploitations by extractive industries. But tourism has a downside -- from the earliest visitors, humans have unwittingly brought alien species that compete with native plants and animals.
It’s not about feeling guilty, or staying away from the islands. It’s about arming yourself with awareness, and shaping tourism to be a positive force by finding ways to give back more than we take, and making sure we are part of the solution. By supporting the conservation and education efforts of the Charles Darwin Foundation and IGTOA, we are working towards the solution!
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Travel well.
Beth Conway
Adventure Life
www.Adventure-Life.com
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I am the Financial Controller at Adventure Life, and it is my pleasure to be the one to actually collect all the donations from our travelers, send this money to IGTOA, write a thank you and send a voucher to our clients for their next trip with us. All of this takes me maybe a day or two each quarter, but it is so rewarding knowing that I am taking part in this amazing program.
As the treasurer of a local Montana non-profit, I know how challenging and important fundraising is for an organization. It can mean the difference between continuing work on the projects you feel so strongly about and closing up shop. I can’t say enough how much this fundraising program has helped IGTOA and the Galapagos Conservancy. Adventure Life has raised about $30,000 in the last year or so – a huge jump from IGTOA fundraising efforts in the past.
I am so proud of our travelers for donating to the Galapagos – especially since most of them donate before they have even seen the islands. I am also extremely proud of Adventure Life for not only organizing this program for our travelers, but for playing such a key role in this new and exciting fundraising program. It gives me much satisfaction to work for a company that finds the preservation of this beautiful and unique part of the world so important, so that future generations can see the islands in the same condition that we have are able to. It really makes me realize why I love to work in this industry. There is so much more to travel than a stamp in the passport and a few great photographs, and I am glad that our travelers appreciate this as well. With the great success of this program in the Galapagos, I am only hoping that we may be able to begin similar programs in the other countries that we visit.
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I would just like to congratulate Adventure Life for providing an effective plan to both promote worldy adventures to folks but also to educate them on the fragility of these places they travel to, and as tourists, to hold them accountable in a sense for protecting such a diverse and awesome place. Specifically in this case, the Galapagos Islands.
It is both very important to have opportunities to experience places as the Galapagos Islands but also just as important to preserve them for others. It is so wonderful to see the postitive alliance between Adventure Life and IGTOA and their team effort to protect such a valuable treasure of ours. It allows their program to run successfully and will no doubt be a great asset for future programs hoping to achieve responsible tourism accross many borders on our planet.
Thank you Adventure Life for your awesome work!
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Thanks Adventure Life!
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I have traveled with Adventure Life to Guatemala and Costa Rica. I think this is a wonderful program to raise money for the Galapagos. Are there any plans to do similar programs in the other countries you visit? I would like to see a program in each country eventually!
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Thanks for your post, Sue! I hope you are still enjoying fond memories from your travels!
We would ALSO love to see this project expanded to all of the destinations we send our travelers; especially since it has been to successful in the Galapagos. Part of the task is "simply" finding organizations (like IGTOA and the GC) that are working effectively in the other destinations. But not to worry - we are not waiting idly by as we work towards this expansion. In addition to our Galapagos fund-raising program, Adventure Life has been also working on in some new sustainability projects. Here are two of our favorites:
1. The Casa de Acogida Mantay was created in 2000 by the association, Qallariy Project for Support in Development. The shelter is designed to support the alarming numbers of teenage mothers in Peru - providing them with a safe environment where they are counseled, educated and given training in local technical centers. We have been involved with Mantay for some time (purchasing their crafts for select travelers and arranging occasional visits). In 2007, we donated $7200 to the shelter. We have also built-in visits to Mantay to some of our Peru itineraries; travelers receive information on the shelter and a small sample of their handicrafts before departure.
2. The Center for Traditional Textiles in Cusco (CTTC): In 2007, Adventure Life donated $5000 to CTTC. The CTTC is a non-profit organization established in 1996 to aid in the survival of Incan textile traditions and to provide support to weaving communities in the Cusco region. We have been involved with the CTTC for years; regularly scheduling visits for our travelers to the museum. But in addition to our donation, we have designed visits to the Center's museum and store into our Peru itineraries. Before departure, our Peru travelers receiving information on the Center and why it is so important to preserving the traditional weaving cultures.
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Travel well.
Beth Conway
Adventure Life
www.Adventure-Life.com
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Comentarios
As an employee, and a sales agent here who spends countless hours on the phone with prospective travelers, I am proud to represent and even brag about our company's efforts to increase Galapagos conservation aware and promote a financing program that is actually producing effective results. Not many companies view conserving the regions they use for their industry and a viable expense, but Adventure Life sees it as a non-negotiable must. If we desire to have any future in the travel industry, then we must be actively involved in helping to protect and sustain that resource that is so key to our company's very success. It is long-sighted thinking and responsible business practice, and I am proud to say I am an employee here. It makes the "selling" easy, as our company's efforts speak for itself.
I an Adventure Coordinator here and spend countless hours on the phone with prospective travelers. I am proud to represent and even brag about our company's efforts to increase Galapagos conservation awareness and promote a financing program that is actually producing effective results. Not many companies view conservation of the regions used in their industry as a viable expense, but Adventure Life sees it as a non-negotiable must. If we desire to have any future in the travel industry, then we must be actively involved in helping to protect and sustain that resource that is so key to our company's very success. It is long-sighted thinking and responsible business practice, and I am proud to say I am an employee here. It makes the "selling" easy, as our company's efforts speak for itself.
The debate on tourism's effects on the Galagagos is ongoing. Here you have a unique and fragile ecosystem that has inspired science over the past century but has also been exploited by foreign and domestic entities, such as the fishing industry.
Tourism allows travelers to visit this area and to witness first hand the diversity and extraordinary story of nature's ability to adapt and change to survive in this isolated and harsh environment. Travelers often leave as advocates for conservation of the archipelago and in turn, encourage the international community's demand to protect the Galapagos.
With that said, there is a "dark side to tourism" as more and more people are visiting this fragile archipelago, resulting in an increased impact on the landscape, pollution, and population growth as Ecuadorians from the mainland are attracted to the prospects of making a "quick buck".
Having been to the Galapagos and considering that I work for a travel company, I will personally say that tourism is important to the survival of the Galapagos, but tourism should be more regulated and even forced to be more responsible in protecting the environment that provides the industry's livelihood as well as support the local communities in the Galapagos. Organizations like the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA) is one such example of an organization that encourages its members to look at the "big picture" instead of just the "bottom line".
Travelers should also contribute back to the Galapagos, and the Traveler-Funding program that IGTOA has started is a great tool for promoting financial contributions from the travelers that are learning about the Galapagos and enjoying their holidays with friends and families. It is a voluntary gift that allows the traveler to say "Thank you, Galapagos, for giving me this experience" and helping ensure that the Galapagos is protected and will be there for the next traveler who comes.
I have always been fascinated with the Galapagos Islands. From the moment I heard first mention of Charles Darwin's name and his theory of evolution, I knew that his old stomping grounds would be a place that I would love to explore. This interest was peaked enormously when I took my first anthropology class in college-human evolution-where I realized just how truly special a place like the Galapagos Islands really is.
Luckily, I got to see these incredible islands first hand in the fall of 2007. I was traveling around Ecuador, working on organic farms and teaching English, when I received word from my parents that they would be meeting me in Guayaquil and we would be continuing onto the Galapagos. I was elated--I had initially convinced myself that the closest to the Galapagos I would get would be hearing my fellow travelers' stories, but now I was going to experience the islands first hand.
The trip to Ecuador was my parents' first encounter with Latin American culture. It made me proud to know that I had helped them overcome a cultural barrier, and from the moment we arrived at the Baltra airport they soaked up every little ounce of Galapageno culture they could.
I think it is really important for every human being to be able to experience true, raw, natural beauty like that found in the Galapagos. There is something incredibly humbling about snorkeling with sea lions or seeing a pod of orcas play with your tiny boat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The magnitude of biodiversity seen in the Galapagos islands truly indicates the complexity of life-and the reality that we are just another species filling a biological niche.
Preserving these spectacular islands is important not only from a biological sense but also from a historical sense. While it IS incredibly important that people are able to witness this unreal biological heaven, it is equally important to take every means possible to leave them untouched and untainted. I am lucky enough to work for a company who not only promotes this sustainability but who also creates an environmental awareness with all of its travelers who are lucky enough to see the raw beauty of the Galapagos Islands.
As a voting member of IGTOA a few years back, I had the unique opportunity to vote on how IGTOA funds would be used for conservation projects in the Galapagos. At that time, the travel funding program did not exist. The total budget that we had available for conservation projects was less than the amount Adventure Life has collected in a single year through the traveler's funding program. It was such a challenge to weigh where our dollars would have the most successful impact. What a frustration to have to say no to many worthwhile project ideas because of a lack of funds! I'm so proud of the money travelers have raised through IGTOA. The Galapagos Islands are a magical world with a complex array of conservation challenges. Every dollar makes a huge difference and it's great to see such an influx of funds dedicated to these much-needed efforts!
Yes indeed! Adventure Life's president Brian Morgan and one of our Travel Specialists, Renee Noffke, were just at the annual IGTOA meeting in Ecuador last week where voting for future projects and program funding were just a few of the topics on the agenda. The budget for project funding has certainly changed for the better -- but there are certainly always room for improvement. We only look forward to what the future will bring.
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Travel well.
Beth Conway
Adventure Life
www.Adventure-Life.com
Great information! I'm going to start booking my vacations through organisms like Adventure life. I didn't even know things like this existed. Thanks again.
Thanks John -- it's truly our pleasure to provide this program for our travelers! I think we're right on track (fingers crossed) to reach $100,000 by the end of 2010. It's very exciting to learn that we've introduced you to some of the happenings in the geotourism-world. Hopefully this forum/challenge with help spread the good-word about other initiatives in the industry as well...
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Travel well.
Beth Conway
Adventure Life
www.Adventure-Life.com
I praise Adventure Life for its Galapagos Traveler-Funding Program. The Galapagos are fragile, and conservation efforts are very necessary for the survival of the islands and its species. The fact that Adventure Life assures that 100% of traveler's money goes to proven organizations like IGTOA puts this program over the top. I think it should be implemented by all companies, outfitters and organizations that travel to the Galapagos.
Well done, Adventure Life!!!
Many thanks for your comments! Yes - the islands are indeed fragile and conservation and education efforts are needed, but furthermore, as a tour operator sending travelers to the Galapagos, it is truly our responsibility take active steps towards conservation in the Galapagos -- especially since tourism is so closely associated with the islands successes and struggles. It is true, tourism has provided the primary reason for conservation of the Galapagos Islands. Travelers are an important source of jobs and foreign exchange. Without visitors, there would be little defense against outright exploitations by extractive industries. But tourism has a downside -- from the earliest visitors, humans have unwittingly brought alien species that compete with native plants and animals.
It’s not about feeling guilty, or staying away from the islands. It’s about arming yourself with awareness, and shaping tourism to be a positive force by finding ways to give back more than we take, and making sure we are part of the solution. By supporting the conservation and education efforts of the Charles Darwin Foundation and IGTOA, we are working towards the solution!
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Travel well.
Beth Conway
Adventure Life
www.Adventure-Life.com