Spotlight: Yucatan Adventure

From the Web site of Yucatan Adventure:

Yucatan Adventure is a volunteer online magazine dedicated to help travelers learn about Yucatan's Maya Culture, people and traditions as well as to inform travelers about the many wonderful eco-cultural activities & experience found nearby Chichen Itza. . . .

The site hosts interesting news and feature articles:

With great joy and proud faces, the Hacienda Chichen staff volunteer their time to help in constructing the New Nutrition Center donated by the Maya Foundation In Laakeech to the Xcalacoop Health Clinic. The building will host many healthy nutrition programs to help Mayan children and families. We invite you to read our August article about this great volunteer effort. . . .

On June 7th, 2008 Yucatan's Mayan Wiseman and Elder Healers, from the association KUCH KAAB Y'EETEL J'MEN MAAYA'OB, A.C., celebrated an authentic Mayan Sacred Ceremony at the border of Chichen Itza's Cenote Sagrado, the first Mayan ceremony celebrated in the site since INAH took the guardianship of this archaeological Maya site. J-Men Bartolome Poot and Mayan Elder Wiseman Idelfonso Ake did the offerings to honor Mother Nature's Spiritual Guardians. Also, the J-Men offered a special Mayan blessing U TS'ITSJA'IL YÁALAL JA' to purify the Sacred Cenote's fresh water energy flow. An article about this important Chichen Itza Mayan ritual will soon appear in our website. . . .

This December 2007, the Maya Foundation was granted its non-profit status in Mexico. To celebrate this important event, the Maya Elder Wiseman, known as J-Men, granted the foundation its new title: In Láakeech, also spell as In Lakech, which in Yucatec Maya signifies, "I recognize you are I, and that I am you," a holistic expression of unity. The name clearly exemplifies the Maya Foundation's mission and vision to bring brotherhood amongst the human race and a helping hand to those less fortunate.

The new Board of Directors for the Maya Foundation In Láakeech A.C. is headed by Mr. Ruben Gutierrez and Don Valerio Canche among others. The foundation's 2008 social work agenda will include the opening of the Xcalacoop Health Center's new multi-function building and kitchen, an indigenous medicinal garden and workshops, plus nutritional cooking classes as part of the Children Malnutrition Program started in 2007.

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Toh, Festival of Birds, Nov. 13-16

From the Web site of Yucatan Birds:

The 7th Yucatan Bird Festival, to take place from 13 to 16 of November, 2008, besides challenging the best of the local and international birders, will also feature an event for beginning birders.

This year you will appreciate the birds relates with the Mayan culture. The sedes will be Merida and Uxmal.

The Yucatan Bird Festival “TOH” takes place in a state which has traditionally served as the region’s cultural center. It’s a perfect place to combine birds with visits to Maya archeological zones and rural indigenous communities. Join us for well-packed three days of birding in company of local guides. Yucatan is home to 444 of the 547 bird species registered for the entire peninsula.

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World Tourism Day, September 27

From a letter from Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO):

Climate change is one of the greatest global challenges in general, and to sustainable development and the UN Millennium Development Goals in particular.
Catalyzing grassroots action by the tourism sector to face this challenge is at the centre of this year’s World Tourism Day Theme, Tourism: Responding to the Challenge of Climate Change.

Tourism is one of the few sectors that cuts across a whole range of economic and social activities. It is furthermore a key economic and job driver in the developing world. We therefore can and must play an active role to tackle the double challenge of climate response and poverty alleviation.

As the leading UN agency for tourism, UNWTO’s input from Davos to Bali 2007 has shown our determination to carry out rigorous action to implement a carbon-neutral roadmap in tourism. We encourage urgent adaptation of a range of policies which promote sustainable tourism that reflects environmental, socio-economic and climate responsiveness.

Our call to action is hence to change habits and position renewable energy at the forefront of international response by promoting the action oriented Davos Declaration Process, encouraging tourism stakeholders to adapt, to mitigate and use new technology and secure financing for the poorest countries to face the challenge of climate change.

Our call to respond to the challenge of climate change consists of a year long campaign during 2008, with World Tourism Day on 27 September in Peru as one of its highlights. A global high-level meeting around this subject will gather public and private stakeholders and contribute to the evolving planning and action towards overall sustainability.

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New survey finds economic incentive for protecting ocean resources

From a media release issued by Oceana:

Washington, D.C. -- Oceana released the results of a new study today that finds a strong economic incentive for protecting living ocean resources. Sea the Value: Quantifying the Value of Marine Life to Divers shows that scuba divers are willing to pay more to see healthy corals, sharks and sea turtles.

"Divers are personally invested in the oceans and truly understand the importance of safeguarding marine wildlife and habitats," said Suzanne Garrett, dive program coordinator at Oceana. "Divers are avid participants in ecotourism and show a great willingness to protect all that inhabits the oceans."

Scuba divers contribute more than $4.1 billion dollars to local coastal economies alone each year through dive-related vacations. As part of Sea the Value, conducted in collaboration with Duke University, scuba divers were asked the maximum amount of money they were willing to pay, in addition to their normal dive costs, for the increased likelihood of seeing a particular species. Information was obtained from more than 500 scuba divers from across the United States who responded to a 25 question, web-based survey.

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Renewable energy in tourism initiative: Best practices manual

From an article by Wendy Kerr in EcoCurrents, the membership magazine of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES):

The Renewable Energy in Tourism Initiative (RETI) has recently developed a set of Best Practices in Renewable Energy for the Tourism Industry and they can be downloaded for free at www.renewabletourism.org.

Through the use of case studies, these manuals outline renewable energy adoption strategies that maximize energy efficiency, minimize environmental impacts, and result in cost savings or increased profitability across six tourism sectors: Accommodations, Airlines, Cruise Lines, Public Lands Agencies, Ski Resorts, and Tour Operators.

Tourism, the world’s largest industry, has a powerful impact on, and is greatly impacted by, the ecological health of its destinations across the globe.

One of tourism’s largest economic and environmental costs is the massive amount of energy required for the transportation of travelers and maintenance of facilities like hotels and attractions.

Thus, many businesses are eager to minimize their consumption of non-renewable energy, but are often uncertain on how to make it happen due to the technological complexity and rapid rate of innovation in field of renewable energy.

According to the lead authors at Sustainable Travel International, the RETI best practice manuals, “are intended to serve as an inspiration and guide to tourism businesses of all sizes interested in realizing the benefits of adopting renewable energy initiatives and supporting a healthy planet.”

The Green Homes and Renewable Energy workshop, November 6-8, Akumal, Mexico, will help clear up the uncertainties of renewables for tourism operators, travelers, homeowners, and anyone interested in renewable energy.

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Destination spotlight: Balamku in Mahahual

From an article in EcoCurrents, the monthly membership magazine of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES):

Sustainability Practices at Balamku, Inn on the Beach: Using the resources of nature without abusing the environment by Alan Knight and Carol Tumber

We believe that we have an obligation to protect the environment and reduce the impact of tourism by using eco-efficient energy and water systems, waste management practices, and by preserving the natural environment. . . .

All of our energy is provided by one of the largest solar panel installations on the Costa Maya.

There are 40 panels and 36 batteries in our system. Wind generation has been added to complement this solar system. It provides about 25% of our electricity and since there is almost always wind at night, our system loves this.

We supply our guests with 24 hour electricity without a generator pounding away in the background. . . .

Our water-saving, composting toilets are quite unique. As the waste is composted, toilet paper is put in the toilet and the black water is separated in the composting unit into a tank and used for large trees in our gardens. Water usage with these toilets is reduced from a normal gallon a flush to one pint. . . .

The planning design of Balamku considered the protection of the many local species of trees and plants. The units are situated to maximize natural ventilation. The beach has a beautiful stone wall to reduce the risk of erosion. Vines and shrubs have intentionally been left to assist in further reduction of soil erosion as well as for the enjoyment of their natural beauty.

The workshop Green Homes and Renewable Energy in the Riviera Maya, November 6-8, in Akumal will teach workshop participants about many of the sustainable practices used at Balamku.

Photo: Solar panels tucked just above the trees at Balamku. Photo courtesy of Balamku.

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Agency decision furthers bid process for Riviera Maya airport

From an article by Thomas Black on Bloomberg.com;

Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Mexican antitrust chief Eduardo Perez Motta said the beach area known as Riviera Maya is probably a different market from Cancun, a designation that may allow Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste SAB to bid on a planned airport there.

Defining whether the two markets overlap significantly is the first step for determining if Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, which operates the Cancun airport, would be allowed to run a proposed airport for the Riviera Maya, said Perez Motta in an interview with reporters in Monterrey. Riviera Maya is a beach resort area south of Cancun that includes Playa del Carmen.

``Apparently, they are two separate markets,'' Perez Motta said.

The government plans to award a contract to build and operate an airport in the region to help cope with a growing number of tourists who visit the Riviera Maya for its white-sand beaches and turquoise-colored ocean. The project is part of a plan for the government and private companies to spend $250 billion from 2007 to 2012 to build ports, roads, bridges, airports and other infrastructure.

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Portal to mythical Mayan underworld found in Mexico

From a Reuters story by Miguel Angel Gutierrez:

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican archeologists have discovered a maze of stone temples in underground caves, some submerged in water and containing human bones, which ancient Mayans believed was a portal where dead souls entered the underworld.

Clad in scuba gear and edging through narrow tunnels, researchers discovered the stone ruins of eleven sacred temples and what could be the remains of human sacrifices at the site in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Archeologists say Mayans believed the underground complex of water-filled caves leading into dry chambers -- including an underground road stretching some 330 feet -- was the path to a mythical underworld, known as Xibalba.

According to an ancient Mayan scripture, the Popol Vuh, the route was filled with obstacles, including rivers filled with scorpions, blood and pus and houses shrouded in darkness or swarming with shrieking bats, Guillermo de Anda, one of the lead investigators at the site, said on Thursday.

The souls of the dead followed a mythical dog who could see at night, de Anda said.

Excavations over the past five months in the Yucatan caves revealed stone carvings and pottery left for the dead.

"They believed that this place was the entrance to Xibalba. That is why we have found the offerings there," de Anda said.

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Can tourism and wildlife ever mix?

From a New Scientist media release on a report by Andy Coghlan:

EVEN when they tiptoe discreetly through the undergrowth, nature lovers and ecotourists may be having an unexpectedly damaging impact on wildlife. A study of protected Californian forest has shown that hiking, wildlife-watching and similar low-impact activities are linked to a sharp drop in numbers of carnivores such as bobcats and coyotes.

"We saw dramatic, fivefold reductions in the native species," says Adina Merenlender of the University of California, Berkeley, who ran the study with Sarah Reed of the San Francisco-based Wilderness Society.

Ecotourism is big business.

In 2004, it grew three times as fast as the tourist industry as a whole. One in five tourists now go on eco-holidays. It has been shown to have an impact on a range of species, from dolphins and dingoes to penguins and polar bears (New Scientist, 6 March 2004, p 6). The dilemma is that revenue from ecotourism provides one of the best incentives for local communities to protect endangered animals instead of hunting them.

Philip Seddon, a wildlife management specialist at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, says the finding that such apparently harmless activities may alter the make-up of wildlife communities challenges the main concept of ecotourism - that it minimises impacts and maximises benefits. Reserve managers may in future have to make more areas off-limits to tourists.

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Mexican Association of Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism

From the Web site of AMTAVE:

A pioneer in its field, established in 1994, is the national organization that groups professional outfitters dedicated to the operation and promotion of ecotourism and adventure travel in Mexico.

AMTAVE is synonym of GUARANTEE of SECURITY, QUALITY AND PROFESSIONALISM

MISSION
Our mission is to promote and protect ecotourism and adventure-related activities and sites in Mexico, contributing to the ongoing development of relevant regions and organisations through specific projects, the active inclusion and involvement of local communities, the emphasis on environmental protection, and the regulation and monitoring of the industry in order to ensure that its products and services are proffessionally delivered and that they comply with internationally-accepted regulations and standards

OBJECTIVES
+ PROMOTE the routes, circuits and activities that the Amtavianos offer.
+ REGULATE AND MONITOR the correct operation of the services offered.
+ GUIDE, SUGGEST AND SUPPORT operational strategies for the fulfillment of the established guidelines.
+ ESTABLISH &/OR PARTICIPATE IN PROJECTS intended to keep the ecological balance and the economical and social development of the regions, where use of natural resources takes place...
+ Demand QUALITY & PROFESSIONALISM from the services offered based on international standards.
+ PROMOTE training and the use of new technology and equipment.

The Web site provides a search engine for eco-operators in each state of Mexico.

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Integrating sustainability into tour operators' business practices

From the Web site of the Tour Operators Initiative:

Effectively integrating sustainability into the tour operators' business means considering environmental, social and economic aspects throughout the process of developing a holiday package.

The key operating areas where tour operators can integrate sustainability practices are:

+ Internal management, by taking into account sustainability principles in the management of human resources, office supplies and production of printed materials;
+ Product development and management, by planning tours and selecting holiday package components that minimise environmental, economic and social impacts;
+ Contracting with suppliers, by integrating sustainability principles into the selection criteria and service agreements of suppliers;
+ Customer relations, by guaranteeing privacy, health and safety standards, and providing customers with information on responsible behaviour and sustainability issues at their destinations; and
+ Relations with destinations, by supporting destination stakeholders' efforts to address sustainability issues and proactively contributing to conservation and development projects.

Moreover, to ensure that activities targeted toward sustainability are comprehensive, credible and lead to long-term positive changes, it is important to integrate sustainability principles into corporate policy and management systems, and to monitor and report on performance.

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Operator spotlight: EcoColors

From the Web site of EcoColors:

EcoColors wants to integrate preservation and protection with ecotourism by education its clients and by working with research organisations and school to raise the environmental awareness.

During the tours in-depth information is provided by our biologist or naturalist guides about the nature, history and culture of the area visited. Because the eco tour will not include more than 10 people, impact upon the environment stays minimal and increasing the personality of the tour. . . .

Environmental responsibility
We try to minimize the impacts that tourists have on a destination and maximize the positive impacts that they can have.

* In order to protect our ecosystems we work together with multiple research organizations such as the WWF, Ecotourism Society, SEMARNAT, the Smithsonian School, Environmental Studies in Minnesota, and Adventure Travel Association to optimize our knowledge and give the best protection.

* Raise awareness of the importance of the ecosystems in Mexico by educating our travelers about the nature and history of Mexico.

* In order to educate our travelers all our guides are educated in the scientific and biological field

* EcoColors provides a base for its guides to work with other preservation organization and institutions in order to maintain and improve the environment and its awareness among the people.

* In order not to exceed the biological carrying capacity on the ecosystems we will only take small groups of people (not more than 10) making it also possible for our travelers to receive personal attention from our guides.

* EcoColors has been able to train different people on environmental interpretation, product development, and promotion of ecotourism.

Economic responsibility
To make sure that everybody profits from ecotourism:

* The office and the management of EcoColors consists of only Mexican people.

* As a business commitment compliant with our goal to sustain and protect our tropical ecosystems, EcoColors donates 5 % of its income to environmental research and protection projects in the Mayan World.

Social responsibility
In order to have our clients experience the Mexican culture:

* The guides will explain the history of the region, politics, and the culture of it besides the information provided on the environment.

* Visit not only the well-known places, but also the less familiar places where the clients will experience the culture better.

* Provide general traveling tips, code of ethics an more.

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Adios, Cancún

From an article by Chris Hawley in the USA Today:

MEXICO CITY — Adios, Cancún?

The plunging U.S. dollar has already forced many Americans to give up vacations in Europe. Now, the dollar has lost nearly 10% against the Mexican peso since January — meaning that beach trips to sunny spots south of the border are becoming out of reach, too.

The dollar's value had been stable for years in Mexico, even as it fell against other currencies such as the euro. The shift could have a significant effect on tourism and the $347 billion in trade between Mexico and the United States.

Ronald Scott Braithwaite of New Haven, Conn., is one of many American tourists who have embraced Mexico as one of the last remaining bargain destinations abroad. "Maybe if the dollar keeps going down, we won't be able to come here either," he said as he and his wife visited Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral. . . .

Mexico City is nearly as expensive for foreigners as Washington, according to a study released in July by Mercer, a U.S. consulting firm that studies the cost of living in cities around the world. Mexico's inflation rate of 5% is also about a percentage point higher than in the USA.

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Ways to help people in the Yucatán!

TravelYucatan.com lists "humanitarian aid organizations and indepedent ecological and cultural associations operating in the Yucatan Peninsula. Each of these organizations relies on the generosity and kindness of its supporters."

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Colonial Valladolid offers an authentic cultural treat

From an article by Mari Pintkowski in the August 2008 newsletter of Sac-be:

Valladolid was once the Mayan ceremonial center of Zaci (sah-kee), so it also has deep roots in the life of the Mayan people. In the 16th century the Spaniards made several attempts to settle and colonize the city, but due to its isolation and distance from their headquarters in Merida, the Mayans never let the Spaniards establish a strong foothold. But they did manage to establish a typical Spanish town plan laid out around a central square, called the Zocalo, and to build several majestic buildings, including the Church of Saint Servacio that still anchors one corner of the zocalo.

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Workshop: Green Homes & Renewable Energy in the Riviera Maya, Nov. 6-8, Akumal, Mexico

Green Homes & Renewable Energy in the Riviera Maya, a three day workshop, will be November 6-8, 2008, in Akumal, Mexico.

Whether you want to "green" your home or business in the Riviera Maya or anyplace else in the world, you'll gain invaluable insights from two exceptional green building and renewable energy professionals.

You can register for all three days or any combination of days.

November 6 - Green building and remodeling techniques and tools, including water and waste management
Presenter: Sherrie Gruder, Sustainable Design Specialist, LEED Accredited Professional

November 7 - Using the sun to make electricity and hot water
Presenter: John Hippensteel, Lake Michigan Wind and Sun*

November 8 - Using wind to generate electricity
Presenter: John Hippensteel, Lake Michigan Wind and Sun*

Co-sponsored by Yucatan Environmental Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3), and RENEW Wisconsin, a non-profit promoting renewable energy.

Workshop details here.

Registration here.

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