EplerWood International Launches New Strategies for Tourism Sustainability For Immediate Release October 29, 2004
For more information contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For background information visit: www.eplerwood.com Burlington, VT, USA EplerWood International, a consulting firm based in Burlington, Vt. is outlining innovative approaches for international donor institutions to develop tourism sustainability programs. The firm just released the October 2004 edition of EplerWood Reports which together with the June 2004 report outlines a detailed approach for donor institutions to monitor and evaluate their sustainable tourism investments. Find reports at http://www.eplerwood.com/reports.php This report is being circulated widely among sustainable tourism professionals, and is the most extensively reviewed and researched proposed monitoring and evaluation program designed for donors investing in sustainable tourism. It will be published as part of a Stanford University conference publication in 2005. In other news, Megan Epler Wood is working with Dr. Kreg Lindberg of Oregon State University and Rainforest Expeditions of Peru to launch a one-week field study course on Ecolodge Planning and Management in March 2005 at Posadas Amazonas in the Peruvian Amazon. Posada Amazonas is one of the leading models of ecotourism business, management, community involvement, and interpretation in the world. Plans are underway to develop the course for other universities and for ecotourism professional training. Contact EplerWood International [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you seek to partner on this initiative. Megan Epler Wood spoke in October 2005 at the World Tourism Policy Forum at George Washington University on Ecolodge Development Models, outlining the results from her firm's consulting work with the World Bank/IFC/SME and with US AID in Sri Lanka. A report on this seminal conference will be published on Planeta.com in November. The firm is also co-developing an Ecotourism Emerging Industry Forum with Ron Mader of Planeta.com which will take place on line in 2005 to consult small, medium and micro enterprises on sustainable tourism policy approaches by donors, foundations and NGOs. This forum is designed to provide professionally moderated, up-to-date results on small and medium enterprise (SME) priorities for funding and investment decisions for sustainable tourism in developing countries. Sponsorships are presently being sought from NGOs and donors, and a full round of requests for business enrollment will take place in early 2005. The initial document describing the initiative is presently supported by businesses from over 10 countries. The firm's research on ecolodge business development, which was synthesized together with a study by The International Ecotourism Society on environmental footprint and best practice, will be released by World Bank/IFC/SME division in November 2005. This publication includes original research and data on the business, market, and technical needs of ecolodges worldwide with 4 case studies. Megan Epler Wood founded EplerWood International in 2003 to provide business, market, and project development expertise in the field of sustainable tourism development to donors, private business and NGOs. Megan Epler Wood www.eplerwood.com
