Transat

As part of its strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainable tourism development, Transat, an integrated international tour operator, is supporting the development of a sustainable tourism promotion program for local hotel operators in the Maya Riviera, a leading tourist destination on Mexico's Yucatán peninsula. The Rainforest Alliance, jointly with its local partner, the Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative (MARTI) will provide training and technical support in environmental and social best practices to hotel owners and managers in the region. The practices aim, among other things, to conserve water and energy, manage waste, manage development near water bodies, and combat the sexual exploitation of children in tourism.

The International Alliance for the Marketing and Commercialization of Sustainable Tourism Products and Services

(Read about this project in Spanish, French or German)

The International Alliance for the Marketing and Commercialization of Sustainable Tourism Products and Services -- funded by the Inter-American Development Bank/Multilateral Investment fund -- aims to increase the competitiveness and international recognition of small and medium sized businesses that have adopted best management practices in participating Latin American countries.

The project has four components, all of which share a common goal -- to create international market linkages for tourism companies who have demonstrated a proven commitment to the wellbeing of the environment and local communities. By facilitating communication between these like-minded tourism businesses on a local level, creating links between these businesses and tour operators, and promoting these businesses to consumers and to the media, the Rainforest Alliance is helping them become more competitive in a rapidly growing industry, and ultimately helping protect the very natural and cultural treasures that their guests travel from far and wide to see. The project monitors and evaluates the benefits of responsible tourism practices and shares the results with others.

The project began in 2007 as a sequel to the Project for the Implementation of Best Management Practices and Certification Support for Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises, to provide market support to businesses that have participated in the Rainforest Alliance's best management practices training and technical assistance program. Tourism entrepreneurs from Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru will benefit from the activities of this project until its end in October 2011.

The World Heritage Alliance

The World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism is an industry-led, membership-based initiative led by Expedia and the United Nations Foundation that has 50 members and partners working together to contribute to World Heritage site conservation in seven different countries. The partners believe that conscientious efforts by the travel industry and its customers can contribute directly to nature conservation, historic preservation and poverty reduction through responsible tourism.

Rainforest Alliance is an Associate Partner of the World Heritage Alliance and is committed to promoting and preserving World Heritage sites through sustainable tourism by:

• implementing the World Heritage Alliance principles
• participating in staff training programs
• educating customers about World Heritage
• supporting community development around World Heritage sites
• engaging employees to support the local community
• supporting the United Nations in its efforts

"We are excited to be part of this innovative partnership to promote sustainable travel," said Tensie Whelan, president of the Rainforest Alliance. "We look forward to offering training and technical assistance to World Heritage Alliance members through our sustainable tourism program, and we hope to help them lead the way in protecting some of the world's most valuable places for years to come."

The Initiative for Conservation in the Andean Amazon

The Initiative for Conservation in the Andean Amazon -- funded by the United States Agency for International Development -- aims to promote the long term sustainability of the Amazon River Basin and to protect its great wealth of biodiversity.

Under this initiative, the Rainforest Alliance is working with Conservación y Desarrollo, our partner group based in Ecuador, to provide technical assistance and training to community organizations and local businesses, and to encourage them to adopt environmentally and socially responsible practices. Our training helps these groups to attract the increasing number of eco-conscious travelers and to make tourism an effective tool in supporting conservation and socio-economic development in protected areas, especially in the Sucumbios, Orellana, Napo and Pastaza provinces of Ecuador. As part of the project, the Rainforest Alliance is also working with universities and community groups to provide workshops in best management tourism practices for tourism businesses operating in the Peruvian Amazon, especially in Cusco and Madre de Dios regions.

Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, now in their sixth year under the stewardship of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), are aimed at recognizing best practice in sustainable tourism within the Travel & Tourism industry worldwide. Given the growing concern about natural and cultural resources, these Awards are particularly important to the WTTC and provide the Council with the opportunity to promote and partner with industry leaders in responsible tourism and highlight prime examples of best practice.

An independent panel of judges, including some of the world's most authoritative experts of sustainable development and a stringent application process involving on-site verification visits by these experts, has earned the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards growing levels of respect among key audiences -- the industry, governments and the international media.

Each year, winners and finalists are honored at a special ceremony during the Global Travel & Tourism Summit -- one of the highest-profile events in the industry, facilitating dialogue between decision-makers, and thus influencing future action in one of the world's largest industries -- Travel & Tourism. The Rainforest Alliance is a proud supporter of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is a global membership council that offers a common understanding of sustainable tourism and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism principles and criteria. The GSTC is currently active in all UNWTO regions, including Africa, the Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, South Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and brings together governments, UN bodies, research and academic institutions, social and environmental NGOs, certification programs, and others from distinct regions of the world, by providing global sustainable tourism guidelines and international accreditation to help protect the environment and support local communities.

Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas (STCNA)

Launched in Bahía, Brazil in September, 2003, the STCNA encourages dialogue among stakeholders and acts as a clearinghouses for certification information.

Collaborating Tourism Associations

A number of organizations have signed an agreement with the Rainforest Alliance, formally announcing their commitment to the advancement of improving environmental, economic and sociocultural business practices in the tourism industry.
View the list of collaborating tourism associations »