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CESD Newsletters

CESD Travel Log: Spring 2007, Vol. 1, No. 1 (PDF)

Letter from the Directors

Our name has changed, but our mission remains the same.

William H. Durham, Ph.D.
CREST Co-Director
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Martha Honey, Ph.D.
CREST Co-Director
Washington, DC

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Travelers' Philanthropy: 2008 Conference Exceeds Expectations

One reason this conference is so important is that if our natural resources are not properly managed, we will lose them,” declared Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai in her opening keynote address at the 2008 Travelers’ Philanthropy Conference. Speaking to some 225 participants from over 20 countries, Dr. Maathai, founder and leader of Kenya’s Green Belt Movement, praised CREST for “nurturing” the ideas of ecotourism and travelers’ philanthropy “for so many years, with so much commitment.”

Full conference proceedings are available on the conference website (www.travelersphilanthropyconference.org) or on a DVD from CREST’s Washington, DC office.

Travelers' Philanthropic: Program and Donation Portal

New: CREST Video Documentaries

Travelers’ Philanthropy: “Giving Time, Talent and Treasure”

“Faces of Coastal Tourism”(Working Title)

Filmmaker Profiles

• Charlene Music grew up in Costa Rica and received her B.A. in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard University. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Documentary Filmmaking at Stanford University.


• Peter Jordan received his B.A. from Duke University and is also currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in Documentary Filmmaking. He is the director of Localfilms, a grassroots production company that partners with international humanitarian organizations to empower communities through film.

 

Coastal Tourism: Research & Field Projects

Building on its field studies of the impacts of cruise tourism in Belize, Costa Rica, and Honduras, CREST has, over the last two years, been carrying out several projects on the impacts of coastal resort tourism and comparisons with models of sustainable tourism. In early 2008, CREST completed a study, “Global Trends in Costal Tourism,” which was commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund’s Marine Program. Simultaneously, CREST has had discussions in Costa Rica with government officials, as well as environmental, tourism, academic, political, and NGO leaders, about the urgent need for an in-depth analysis of resort tourism and vacation home development – dubbed ‘residential tourism’ - along the country’s Pacific Coast
There has been growing concern in Costa Rica that this large-scale, fast-paced coastal development is causing environmental damage and social dislocation and undermining the country’s international reputation for high value ecotourism. Costa Rica’s Vice Minister of the Environment, Jorge Rodriguez told CREST Co-Director Martha Honey that he needed the results from the proposed study “yesterday,” while Dr. Pedro Leon, Coordinator of the government’s Peace with Nature Initiative termed such a study “clearly very important” and he pledged his endorsement and support. With significant financial support from the Blue Moon Fund, CREST launched, in early 2008, a multi-tiered project, which involves some 20 researchers in Costa Rica (headed by Erick Vargas) and the United States, as well as an Advisory Committee of leading Costa Ricans and resident experts to help guide the research.
After more than a year’s research, CREST is now scheduled to complete by mid-2009 its final report on “The Impact of Tourism Related Development Along Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast,” including a set of recommendations agreed upon by the research team and Advisory Committee. The results of this research are expected to play a constructive role in supporting the formation of new policy guidelines for coastal development. The finalized study, together with a new CREST commissioned 30-minute documentary film, will be publicly disseminated to the governments of Costa Rica and its neighbors, the tourism industry, political candidates, and local communities.
Thanks to a grant from Woods Institute at Stanford, a small team of Stanford faculty and students will examine the impacts of tourism on protected areas in sections of the biodiversity rich Osa Peninsula. The studies are designed to produce comparison data to be used in conjunction with CREST’s ongoing studies of various tourism models along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Together, the data collected on protected area usage and on broader aspects of tourism models will help illuminate tourism’s social, economic, and environmental impacts in Costa Rica.

 

Innovators Conference: Rethinking Coastal Development

Building on the old adage that ‘crisis brings opportunity,’ CREST is organizing the first in a series of executive seminars to highlight the crucial role of innovators in the search for sustainable solutions within the tourism industry. The symposium, “Rethinking Coastal Tourism Development: The Importance of Innovators in Times of Climate Change & Economic Crisis,” will be hosted at Stanford University October 7-9, 2009 by CREST and the Center for Global Business at the Graduate School of Business.

Through its research, CREST has identified a growing number of coastal resort and residential home developers who are working toward sustainable design, construction, financing, and management. “We believe it is vital to encourage and strengthen this group of pioneers who are experimenting with socially and environmentally responsible development, operations, and recreational activities in coastal areas,” explained CREST Co-Director Dr. William Durham, Professor of Anthropology and Human Biology at Stanford. He added, “The combination of the current economic crisis plus global warming makes it even more imperative that we encourage sustainable models of coastal development."
Symposium participants will include business executives involved in alternative models for coastal and marine tourism projects in the Caribbean, Mexico, and North and Central America. In addition, experts from environmental NGOs, academic institutions, government agencies, and consumer groups will also take part. The official invitation committee includes David Sklar, CEO and visionary behind Star Island Resort in The Bahamas; Antonio Pares, designer and principal, Mithun Architects, Seattle and San Francisco; Mark Spalding, President, Ocean Foundation and its Resort Partnership funds; Roger Lang, President, Sun Ranch Group and CREST Board Chair; and William Barnett, professor, Stanford Graduate School of Business.

 

The Value of Waves:
CREST Consulting with Save the Waves Coalition


The surf industry has grown over the years, now constituting a multi-billion dollar industry and including surfers of various demographic backgrounds. Despite the impressive growth and international support for surfing, wave conservation efforts are often hindered by the lack of research available regarding the waves’ value. Some of theworld’s best surfing waves have vanished and numerous others are considered threatened or endangered. The leading causes afflicting wave conservation include port expansion, resort and harbor development, jetties and pier construction, and overcrowding.
To assess the value of surfing waves, the nonprofit Save the Waves Coalition has teamed up with CREST and University of Hawaii researchers. CREST has helped to create a survey and train researchers to determine the economic, ecological, and social value of waves at the Mavericks surf break. Every winter, enormous swells that originate in the Gulf of Alaska make their way to Half Moon Bay, CA and provide the town with world renowned surf conditions. Due to the presence of the 50-foot waves, The Mavericks surf break attracts the world’s best surfers to compete in annual competitions. The research conducted at the Mavericks surf break will provide a better understanding of the value of surf waves, in order to improve wave conservation around the world.



 

Market Research: Tracking Travel Trends

In 2008, the Center for Responsible Travel officially launched its Market Research Department with great success. The department collects, studies, interprets, and disseminates information about consumer and industry trends in sustainable tourism and ecotourism.
The need for market research on sustainable tourism became clear when the release of our report (done with TIES), Consumer Demand and Operator Support for Socially and Environmentally Responsible Tourism sparked a wave of demand for more such information. With encouragement from several companies, CREST conducted a feasibility study, developed a research approach, and ultimately launched the department last year. CREST combines the academic expertise of its staff and affiliated university faculty with the on-the-ground perspective of our network of consultants from around the world.

In 2008 we completed three consultancies:

• “Global Trends in Coastal Tourism Development”, commissioned by WWF’s Marine Program. It includes a global overview of major trends in addition to site-specific reports on the Coral Triangle in Asia, the coast of East Africa, and the Pacific coast of Central America. Beyond WWF, the study has been circulated widely at the World Bank Group, and continues to inform the development community on critical issues in coastal tourism development.
• Two studies for Virgin Unite – the corporate social responsibility unit of Virgin Group. CREST conducted; 1) a feasibility study to help Virgin Unite weigh the benefits and viability of an East African ecolodge, and 2) put togther a study of recommendations for Travelers’ Philanthropy opportunities in two dozen Virgin airline and hotel destinations.
• In 2009, CREST has been commissioned by the Netherlands Development Agency (SNV) to do a study which examines the outbound market for responsible tourism in key European and North American countries. Based on this analysis, CREST offers marketing recommendations to SNV’s client tourism businesses in Nepal and six Latin American countries. This study will be made available to the public in English and Spanish and should prove useful to businesses and associations all along the supply chain.

CREST’s Market Research Department is available to undertake additional research. Please contact us to learn how we can meet your needs.

 

 

Books and Reports

Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise?
(Island Press, 2008) 2nd ed.
by Martha Honey

A comprehensive overview of worldwide ecotourism within specific political and economic contexts, in which Dr. Martha Honey reexamines for the second edition six countries she evaluated in the book's first edition: Costa Rica, The Galapagos Islands, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zanzibar, and adds a new chapter on the United States.

 

Ecotourism and Conservation in the Americas
(CABI publishing, 2008)
edited by Amanda Stronza and William Durham

This inter-disciplinary book examines the positive and negative aspects of ecotourism for communities and ecosystems throughout the U.S. and Latin America, incorporating the experiences of policy makers, business owners, and academics involved in ecotourism.

CREST’s Hard-working Interns and Visiting Scholars

Since 2003, CREST has benefitted from the contributions of many dedicated student interns at both our offices. The DC office’s first intern was Darcy Dugan, who, like a number of subsequent interns, came through the Stanford in Washington program. Other Stanford interns included Timothy Telleen, Mollie Chapman, Jackie Crespo, Tammy Cho, and Beth Wylie. Over the years, our other interns have included Claire Nelson from Wellesley, Emy Rodriguez from Wesleyan, Chris Lupoli from Duke, Sintana Vergara from Cornell, Katie Sleeman from Purdue, and Jen Grablander from Colorado State University. Whitney Cooper, who arrived with a M.Sc. from Oklahoma State University in 2007, soon moved from intern to staff to organize the Travelers Philanthropy Conference. During 2008, the DC office had a steady stream of highly productive interns: Shelley Pursell of Thunderbird School of Global Management strategized our rebranding; Ryan Kost, a graduate student at George Mason University and David Greyer from the School of International Training in Vermont assisted with coastal tourism research, Jillian Spiciarich from New York worked on the Travelers’ Philanthropy conference, and Gayle Chong spearheaded market research projects. Currently, our DC office benefits from the help of interns Johanna Contreras, and Anna Marszal. We are also fortunate to have Seema Bhatt, a Fulbright scholar and tourism specialist from India, who holds a M.A. from Yale’s School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and M.Sc from the
University of Delhi.
Since our inception in 2003, the Stanford office has had a steady stream of student interns, who have assisted with our certification, indigenous tourism, cruise impacts, and Travelers’ Philanthrophy projects. Today in the CREST Stanford office, Laura Driscoll, M.A., former intern, turned coordinator, currently leads various research projects and heads the Travelers' Philanthropy program. In 2008, student intern Deanna Zhang jumpstarted a large-scale market research project on tourism development in Costa Rica and in the spring, student intern Claire Menke helped plan the second meeting of Intiruna, an indigenous community tourism alliance of the Americas. Throughout 2008, student intern Kellen Klein assisted with marketing and promotion of the Travelers’ Philanthropy program. Both CREST offices hope to recruit equally talented interns during 2009!

 

Ecotourism Charter Club



Responsible tourism, when done well, provides a vacation experience superior to conventional and mass tourism. CREST’s Charter Club trips provide exciting field outings that feature outstanding ecotourism lodges, beautiful scenery, adventure, intellectually engaging discussions, and hands-on learning with other members of the Charter Club. Our members consist of a combination of corporate executives and professionals, who are committed to high quality sustainable travel and are willing to serve as informal advisors to CREST’s innovative programs. CREST is building the Charter Club with the aim of helping to educate key leaders about Responsible tourism best practices. In return, CREST looks to Charter Club members for informal advice, expertise, and financial support for our sustainable tourism programs.
On past trips, the Charter Club has visited luxurious ecolodges in Costa Rica (Lapa Rios and Finca Rosa Blanca), and explored big sky country in Montana while staying at the award winning Lodge at Sun Ranch. Last year, the Charter Club visited the internationally acclaimed Tiamo Resorts on the secluded Bahamian Andros Island, and finished the year with a study safari in Tanzania hosted by outstanding safari outfitters &Beyond. The safari was led by Stanford Professor and CREST co-Director Bill Durham, and was coordinated as a post- Travelers’ Philanthropy Conference trip that reinforced the principals learned at the conference.
Our next exclusive Charter Club trip will be in California’s Napa Valley wine country with visits to organic and sustainable wineries. This trip will take place directly following the Symposium, “Rethinking Coastal Tourism Development” October 10-12, 2009. Please contact us if you’re interested in joining the Charter Club for this upcoming trip.

 

 

CREST Milestones

2003:

• Founded as the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD), a bi-coastal project, at Stanford University and at the Institute for Policy Studies; the East Coast office is shared with The International Ecotourism Society (TIES).
• Researched and published “Rights and Responsibilities: A Compilation of Codes of Conduct for Tourism and Indigenous and Local Communities."
• Promoted and strengthened ‘green’ certification programs around the world in a 3-year project with UNEP, Rainforest Alliance, and TIES.

2004:

• Hosted first major Travelers’ Philanthropy conference at Stanford.
• Began 3 year study of certification programs in Latin America, with focus on small-and medium entrepreneurs, including community based and indigenous businesses, as part of Rainforest Alliance project.
• Published “Consumer Demand and Operator Support for Socially and Environmentally Responsible Tourism,” which is periodically revised and reissued.

2005:

• Carried out field research on perceived impacts of cruise tourism in Mexico, Belize and Grenada.
• Published 4 Handbooks on Certification (Simple User’s Guide, Funding, Marketing, and Financing), in English and Spanish, with TIES and Rainforest Alliance.

2006:

• Published “Cruise Tourism in Belize: Perceptions of Economic, Social & Environmental Impact.”
• Carried out field research on impacts of cruise tourism in Costa Rica and Honduras.
• Organized meeting of indigenous people involved in ecotourism and catalyzed the founding of Intiruna, the first indigenous ecotourism network in the Americas.
• Organized first educational Charter Club trip, to showcase premier ecolodges in Costa Rica, and published photo journal of the trip.

2007:


• Published “Cruise Tourism Impacts in Costa Rica & Honduras: Policy Recommendations for Decision Makers,” in English and Spanish.
• Researched and published “Global Trends in Coastal Tourism,” with separate case studies on Central America, East Africa, and the Coral Triangle.
• Became a fully independent NGO, headquartered in Washington, DC with west coast office at Stanford, and with its own Board of Directors.
• Organized Charter Club trip to award-winning US eco-ranch in Montana, and published photo journal of the trip.



2008:

• Major research project on the environmental, social, and economic impacts of tourism related development along Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast.
• Published new edition of Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? (Island Press) by Martha Honey and Ecotourism and Conservation in the Americas (CABI), edited by William Durham and Amanda Stronza.
• Launched new Traveler’s Philanthropy website, with an Experts Bureau and a secure portal with capacity to solicit donations for community projects that are supported by our partner companies.
• Commissioned and produced first documentary on travelers’ philanthropy, “Giving Time, Talent, and Treasure."
• H osted 2nd international Travelers’ Philanthropy Conference in Arusha, Tanzania, December 3-5.
• Charter Club trips to leading ecolodges in The Bahamas and northwestern Tanzania, and made DVD slide journals of each

2009:

• CESD is renamed and rebranded as the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST).
• Conduct study of European and North American consumer markets for responsible travel to Nepal and various countries in Latin America.
• Publish “Dos and Don’ts of Travel Giving,” and DVD of 2008 Traveler’s Philanthropy Conference.
• Complete Costa Rica coastal tourism study and issue report with policy recommendations.
• Commission video, “Costa Rica for Sale,” on impacts of coastal tourism.
• Host executive symposium, “Rethinking Coastal Tourism Development: The Importance of Innovators in Times of Climate Change & Economic Crisis,” at Stanford University, October 7-9.
• Organize Charter Club trip to sustainable lodge and wineries in Napa Valley, California, October 9-11.
• Facilitate second international conference of the INTIRUNA network of indigenous ecotourism operators.
• Publish “Travelers’ Philanthropy Handbook.”