the process to determine the directions 

for the future of ecotourism in Asia. 

 

"Asia will dominate global tourism in future": UNWTO

"World tourism staged a remarkable recovery from the shock it suffered in 2008 and 2009 due to the global economic downturn and primarily the emerging Asian nations were the engine for the rebound. The Asian region will continue to lead the global tourism growth in the coming years, with major emerging economies like China and India consolidating their position as the driving force behind it", according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

Based on UNWTO statistics, International tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific reached a historic high of 204 million in 2010, some 24 million more than in 2009 and 20 million above the pre-crisis peak of 2008. The region's 13% growth in 2010 was double the world average and, following a modest 2% decline in 2009 despite the global economic downturn, confirms Asia as the world's strongest growing region over the past 2 years.

The impressive growth has been attributed to:

Resurgence in economic growth and international trade in particular intra-regional trade 

Rising middle-class incomes

Easing in travel restrictions and visa requirements

Expansion of aviation access and air capacity across the region

 

The Conference will explore the future of ecotourism & discuss the synergies between socio-economic development and nature conservation and aligning policies towards nation building and wealth creation. They will deliberate on mainstreaming ecotourism and deliberate on cross financing ideas as well as debate on the balance between ecological sustainability and economic accountability.

The commercialisation of ecotourism to achieve economic viability and financial returns with low ecological impact will also be debated. The conference will also help to feature destinations and eco-products in many tour operator programs and networks internationally.

KEYNOTES - Charting the Future of Ecotourism in Asia

 

SESSION 1 - Sustainable Tourism & Roadmaps

(empowering policy makers, public sector administrators, academicians, NGOs etc)

Sustainable ecotourism embraces guidelines and criteria that seek to reduce environmental impacts; use of renewable resources, use of measurable benchmarks, enforcing the power of place and localisation, mainstreaming ecotourism and to improve tourism's contribution to sustainable development, environmental conservation and nation building. Are we doing it right and where are we heading?

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SESSION 2 - Market Development & Marketing Value Chain

(empowering entrepreneurs, eco-tour operators, NGOs, ecolodge owners etc)

Developing regional and domestic markets in ecotourism, learning from leaders in destination positioning, e-marketing, embracing social media and developing virtual communities, exploring successful branding of destinations, evaluating accreditations and mandating green certification for local authorities and industry players. Is galvanising the power of internet and social networking the solution to ecotourism marketing?

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SESSION 3 - Local Community Challenges & Success Stories

(empowering ecolodge and eco-tour operators, public sector administrators, NGOs etc)

Reduce tourism negative impacts of tourism and to increase the positive contribution of tourism business and consumption activity in remote and rural areas, to encourage community based tourism cooperatives and to move ecotourism experiences up the value chain and to provide the necessary capacity building to develop successful local enterprises that meets sustainable tourism objectives.

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SESSION 4 - Public-Private-People Partnerships

(empowering public sector administrators, entrepreneurs, NGOs, communities etc)

Successful recipes for sustainable collaboration, working towards partnerships and sharing resources, justifying public funding for rural development and value management of developmental policies, narrowing urban-rural economic divide, to inculcate united and caring societies through tourism, contributing to sustainable distribution of wealth and promoting the natural and cultural heritage of ecotourism sites.

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How to survive your small scale ecotourism business?

This is a serious seminar for ecotourism entrepreneurs, whether you are just starting up a small ecotourism venture, elevating your nature-based tourism business to ecotourism or "greening" your hotel. Do you know that an eco-tour operator business model is more technical than a mass tourism operator's and an eco-lodge operator needs to market more than just rooms.

Thinking out of the box is imperative. It boils down to finding the right partners be it to fund your project, to provide technical expertise or to market a ecotourism product. The business risks are high but understanding the dynamics of the eco-tourists' buying behaviour and booking process helps to build relationships, strengthen product development, diversify products and generate forward business. The new business of ecotourism involves social media channels, energy and communications technology, skilled and talented employees, creative financing and a deep passion for nature, environment and communities.

Find out more from the successful entrepreneurs and operators in this enlightening and dynamic business seminar.  

Find out at WEC2011

How to disaster-proof your ecolodge and make sense? - Mr Masaru Takayama, Executive Director of Japan Ecolodge Association.

How to market ecotourism? - Mr Nick Ray, Lonely Planet Author and Company Advisor, Hanuman Tourism, Cambodia

 

 Do you want to present your business solution ?

Submission - Last call!   

(This seminar held in parallel with the Plenary Session and Research Symposium is fully sponsored by the private sector. Presenters are established practitioners who have gone through the mill and now shares their personal knowledge and experiences with you so that you will avoid the pitfalls and improves your chances of success. This seminar will benefit investors, operators and entrepreneurs in the ecotourism industry.)

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Your presence at the most important ecotourism market place makes all the difference ...

For buyers of ecotourism, nature and adventure products, ENAM 2011 is THE place to be!

 

The Ecotourism, Nature and Adventure Mart 2011 held in conjunction with the Conference will aim to commercialise ecotourism via eco-travel packages which include nature appreciation, adventure activities, outdoor sports, ecological treks, bird watching, indigenous communities, home-stay, natural science tours, scuba diving etc.

For selected buyers and sellers, you will either partially hosted by the Cambodian private sector and Government to encourage inbound business into Asia particularly South-East Asia. As places for semi-hosting is limited, selection is based on your proven track record and acceptance is based on a first come first serve basis.

 

Sellers will be offering a diverse array of ecotourism, nature and adventure destination products and services from the region as well as from other iconic ecotourism destinations.

Pre-scheduled business meetings are arranged between buyers and sellers.

Register for Booths                   Sorry. Fully taken up!

Register now as Buyer/Seller    Complimentary rooms for hosted buyers and sellers!

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Community Based Eco-Tourism (CBET) 

The academic fraternity & NGOs takes centre stage to showcase new development paradigms, best practices and groundbreaking solutions ..

As ecotourism is being increasingly championed as a rural empowerment tool by supranational, regional and national tourism organisations, WEC 2011 will provide the platform for the academic fraternity to take the centre stage and showcase new development paradigms, best practice and groundbreaking solutions that have been hatched through years of painstaking and laborious research.

In a nutshell, the presence of academics and researchers at WEC 2011 will be a testimony to the their past, present and future role not only in the intellectual capacity but more importantly as the moral and ethical custodians in ensuring the sustainable growth of ecotourism.

(Sponsored by APES and empowered under the Vientiane Declaration on Ecotourism for Developing Countries, this is a special session to draw on the best research and development studies on ecotourism that will provide the edge for policy makers, public sector administrators and entrepreneurs to hone on key issues. The symposium is held in parallel with the Plenary Session and Business Seminar. The Research Symposium is chaired by Prof. Dr Amran Hamzah.) 

Paper Specifications & Conditions      

Abstracts - Last Call!                          

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Tourism/Environment/Natural Resources Ministers and their senior officials, industry leaders, community leaders, conservationists and leading investors discuss ecotourism development and growth   (strictly by invitation only)

 

Promoting multilateral collaboration in the region and galvanising the resources of successful leaders and practitioners to spearhead the advancement of ecotourism in the Asia Pacific. The Round Table together with inputs from the esteemed conference delegates under the theme "Charting the Future of Ecotourism in Asia" will conclude in the "Sihanoukville Declaration on Ecotourism". 

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Summit meeting of members of the ecotourism fraternity in the Asia Pacific region

 

Represented in 14 countries APES has grown from strength to strength since its formation in 2009. An annual congregation of ecotourism proponents, practitioners, researchers, consultants and policy makers to meet, and work together for mutual interests.