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E-letter Archive
E-Letter for November 2008
E-NEWS FROM ECOTOURISM KENYA
November 2008
Green Directory 2009 to be launched at WTM
The second edition of the Green Directory, a publication of Ecotourism Kenya will be launched at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London this November. The Kenya Tourist Board has accepted to be the official distributors of the booklet which contains increasingly popular information on eco-friendly products and services as well as a list of EK members. To be listed in the next edition, advertise or purchase a copy (Kshs. 250 only), contact Grace on 2724403 or email info@ecotourismkenya.org
Film on responsible tourism in Kenya to be released at WTM
Second Episode Kenya: Cultural Video Foundation (CVF) has produced Tourists for Development (T4D), an edutainment TV series to promote responsible tourism experiences and projects taking place in East Africa. The aim is to promote a new way of travelling by showing people how to contribute to the development of local economies through tourism. The first episode focused on Burundi and is being distributed mostly on-line using social networking platforms. Part of the video has been bought by Lonely Planet and will be broadcasted on their website and television channels. The second episode Kenya will be released on the World Responsible Tourism Day at WTM in London. The production was made possible through the collaboration of Ecotourism Kenya and other partners: Laikipia Wildlife Forum, Il Ngwesi Community Lodge, Kitengela Glass, Maasai Centre for Field Studies, Amboseli Maasai Cultural Village, Amboseli Maasai Community Campsite, SNV South Rift Portfolio, Turtle Bay Beach Club, Kipepeo Project, Local Ocean Trust, Watamu Turtle Watch, and Apocalypso Productions. For further details visit www.wtmwrtd.com
EK supports CBOs Market Access at “Get-Away 2008” exhibition
Representatives of 7 community based tourism enterprises (CBTEs) from Amboseli, Magadi, Kitengela and the Mid Rift regions participated in Getaway 2008 tourism exhibition as part of a UNWTO/STEP-driven project to promote community based tourism in Kenya. The exhibition was held at the Sarit Centre Nairobi from October 31st to 2nd November, 2008 and the groups made numerous sales and developed contacts with tour operators who were interested in promoting their enterprises. Ecotourism Kenya is among the organizations steering the UNWTO/STEP Project with the other organizations being the Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife, Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO), Catering & Tourism Development Levy Trustees (CTDLT), Kenya Utalii College, Kenya Tourist Board (KTB), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and South Rift Association of Land Owners (SORALO). For more information on the programme, email: jweru@snvworld.org
Welcome aboard!
As Judy Kepher-Gona moves on to break new grounds elsewhere, we welcome Edith Alusa-Bosire as the new Chief Executive Officer/ Programs Co-ordinator. Edith has a ten year background in environmental management having worked in Engineering and Climate Change consultancies conducting EIAs, audits and training. As she settles in her new role, please join the Board and EK Team to wish her a good stay.
Resources available for members
EK has made various resource items available for purchase. The proceeds from their sale are used to promote sustainable tourism projects. The items available for sale at a minimal cost from the resource centre are as follows:
· Legal Register for Hotels and Lodges at a cost of Kshs. 1,500 (this is an invaluable one-stop-shop summary of the relevant legislation that the industry needs to comply with in their day to day business)
· Green Directory 2009 at Kshs. 250 (the green directory is a much sought after guide to green products and services in Kenya and contains additional information on Tanzania)
· Ecotourism Kenya CD at Kshs. 300
· Car stickers “It’s Smart to be Responsible” at Kshs. 50 per piece (pass on the message about shared responsibility in ecotourism).
To purchase any of the listed products, call (2724403) or visit our offices during normal working hours.
To purchase any of the listed products, call or visit our offices during normal working hours.
Vote for UniquEco’s Flip-Flop Project in the annual BBC World Challenge
UniquEco’s Flip Flop project, which makes and sells consumer items made from thousands of discarded flip flops that wash up daily onto East Africa’s beaches.
We are very excited to announce that UniquEco designs Ltd has been chosen as one of the 12 finalists (out of over 700 applicants) in the annual BBC World Challenge. This promotion is sponsored by the BBC, Newsweek and Shell to bring awareness to small eco-social responsible companies around the world. Public voting has started and UniquEco has the chance to win the competition if they receive more votes than the other finalists.
WE NEED YOUR VOTE!
Simply VOTE on the World Challenge website at http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/html/project08_uniqueco.html.
Fee notes for 2009 Membership Renewal
All membership fees are due on 1st January every year. We will enclose a copy of your fee note in the quarterly newsletter for this final quarter of the year, for your forward planning. We encourage you to renew your subscriptions preferably during the first quarter to enable us effectively deliver our services. All Cheques should be made payable to ECOTOURISM KENYA.
We sincerely thank you for your support in 2008.
Have your say…...YES YOU CAN!
We encourage members and non-members to have their ‘eco-say’ in our newsletters (both the print and e-version). Please submit an article or news-bite on an issue relevant to ecotourism, advertise your goods and services or let us know what you would like to see more or less of in the coming year. Your input is valuable and as Ecotourism Kenya is a membership organization, you play a key role in protecting our environment for future generations.
Have you registered for EcoStorm? The first EcoStorm in Africa will be held at Basecamp Masai Mara on 17th – 20th November 2008. EcoStorm (Ecological Brainstorming) workshops bring the stakeholders of a destination together to discuss the sustainable tourism issues that relate to that destination and to develop a blueprint for the destination’s sustainability. If you would like to register for the upcoming EcoStorm, contact Tina Frisk tina@basecampexplorer.com
Call for proposals
A UNWTO/STEP-led project that aims to enhance the market access of community based tourism products in Kenya has made a call for proposals. Eligibility is restricted to products from South Rift (Amboseli, Maasai Mara, Magadi and Kitengela areas), North Rift (Lake Bogoria, Lake Baringo and Kerio Valley Region) or Northern Kenya (Laikipia, Isiolo, Samburu and Marsabit Districts). The products should be existing (not start ups), owned and managed by the local community and be able to co-finance their proposed project. Grants of up to Kshs 300,000 are available and the deadline for application is 20th November 2008. For application forms and submission details, click here or send an email to philip@ecotourismkenya.org
Quote: “Sustainability is just like the old business adage: you don’t encroach on the principal, you live off the interest,” Ted Turner.
Disclaimer: This e-letter aims to keep members and friends of Ecotourism Kenya abreast with news and developments in conservation and tourism and the views expressed here do not necessarily represent Ecotourism Kenya’s official position. While every effort has been made to verify the information above, inaccuracies and omissions may exist. Users are advised to make additional enquiries from the individuals, groups or organizations concerned, as Ecotourism Kenya will not accept responsibility or liability for any loss that may be occasioned by such inaccuracies and omissions
Date Sent: 2008-11-12
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