Sharon Vipond's Blog

Canadian Arctic weasel-Baffin Is ecotourism

Canadian Arctic weasel-Baffin Is ecotourism

Baskets for tourist-Hanoi

Graduates May 2014-Hanoi

Chaos in the streets-Hanoi

Canadian Arctic tundra-Baffin Is ecotourism

Canadian native art-Baffin Is

In case you missed it, and you are interested in eco-tourism and sustainability, I was just catching up on Vancouver news and read the exciting announcement by PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) for their 2014 Grand Award Winner for Education and Training: it was awarded to Vancouver’s Capilano University and their CBT Vietnam Project!
The first reason I am so excited about this award being given to this particular international program, is because of the attention it will bring to a successful collaborative sustainable community development model.  This major success was based on replicating a model they (Capilano University and Hanoi Open University) co-developed for the first joint project, 2010-2012 in the Sapa region, Vietnam.  The fact they have now proven the model can work in another community gives not only credibility to the method but also to the soundness of the practice and, most importantly, measurable positive outcomes for the community.  Now, with this high profile recognition for their work, lets hope other educational institutions, NGOs and governments will take notice and adopt the same.
The second reason I am so excited about it, is the level of exposure it will hopefully bring to their Tourist Code of Ethics. A couple of years ago, the Canadian and Vietnamese students engaged in the initial phases of the project, designed a code of ethics that embodies the heart and soul of the project:  sustainable, responsible tourism. It was and remains their hope that, “a band of ethical tourists can be formed who, through their commitment and actions will minimize the harmful effects of tourism and as a growing body of committed travelers, can force the tourism industry all over the world to change.”
Basically, the code ask the travel to be committed to assuming the role of a guest, being responsible for one’s actions and consequential outcomes, and, with integrity promote ethical travel through exchange of knowledge, choosing ethical and environmentally friendly alternatives, social activism (including volunteerism), and being respectful to the host countries culture as well as your own. 
At Common Connections we endorse this Tourist Code of Ethics, offering meaningful travel inline with all aspects of the code.
For details of the Sapa Tourism project, their code of ethics and relevant traveller information for Sapa with possible options for trekking tours, homestays, and more, visit their site, http://www.cbtvietnam.com/about/
Cheers,