Babu Muhammad (1930-2022) was a renowned tour guide in the Northern Pakistan region, covering Hindukush, Karakoram, and Himalayas. Born into a notable family in the Mroi village, he grew up in the village, located as a gateway to Upper Chitral. The village had a modest hotel industry, primarily serving the influx of tourists, especially foreign tra...
Literally translating to flour-smudging, Alevromoutzouroma is a traditional flour throwing festival taking place every Clean Monday (the Monday marking the beginning of Lent) in the historic port of Galaxidi (Map) Central Greece. Galaxidi was an strategic fortified stronghold since antiquity controlling trade routes in the ...
When visiting a cultural or natural site, many rush past, some look, few see. A humble waterfall in the centre of Athens' National Garden is a favourite spot of mine as you just can hear soothing water sounds in ultra stereo mode while relaxing on a strategically placed bench. Tourists, couples, small groups, and the occasional horde ...
" /> How the community regeneration can co-opt everyone in addressing nature and climate crises "Nature is saying: This is it. Join me as partner. Deepen, not change so much but deepen, work on more levels and together we can take the changes and make them into transformation and not total collapse."- Jean Houston The most effective community regen...
Bamboo scaffolding looks great, works very well, is light, strong, produced with no carbon footprint and biodegrades. Nevertheless, here in Bali, more and more bamboo is being cleared as the building frenzy continues. For who? For rich foreigners wanting luxury villas, or to build hotels. Or for locals wanting to build attractive accommodation for visitors. This is not sustainable or ethical tourism...
I am thrilled to share with you today two professional and personal development opportunities that can and will enhance your present and future career prospects. The first training opportunity is offered to you by Moyo Training Foundation in collaboration with Earthvoice. It is the first of this kind and reach, high-value and practical nature-based...
Amfissa, a town going back three millennia, 20 km from the famous Oracle of Delphi, has had a complicated history, occupied by and/or fiercely resisting Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Knights of St. John, Catalans, Ottomans and Nazis. New empires and religions left their mark but failed to erase ancient customs, which, as in other parts of Greece, are particularly evident during the "Apokries" (Carnival) season, that lasts four weeks sometime between early February to late March, depending on Easter day. One of the most famous 'pagan' feasts, officially part of the "intangible cultural heritage of Greece", is the Harmaina Ghost of Amfissa (Το στοιχειό της Χάρμαινας στην Άμφισσα). The modernised version of the feast, based on local oral traditions, was revived in 1995 and is performed annually since. It starts on the eve of the last Friday of the Carnival and ends 24 hours later. You will see street processions by men, women and children and a performance featuring three giant monsters/ghosts, each representing a borough of Amfissa and the "kodonoforoi" (bell-wearers) skin-wearing, goat-like figures reminiscent of the god Pan, with bells sewn in their uniforms, as the town was also famous for its bell-makers who produced enough sheep bells for the...
"To succeed with our current nature and climate challenge, we require a philosophy that is underpinned by the understanding that the ecological and social stewardship and the right regeneration model is the optimal path for organisations and individuals to achieve their sustainable and regenerative goals."
- Kinga Monica, Regenerative Coach and Sustainability Innovator
Fast-forward to today, and we see regeneration as a driver of this newly defined impactful travel. I believe that, over the next few decades, this emerging approach will be re-defining and shaping all aspects of travel and tourism. It is poised to give rise to new, more Earth and community-centric trends in the entire ecosystem of related disciplines that make up ecotourism. All things considered, we still suffer from a crisis of good travel that creates nature positive long-term impacts.
"I believe that, over the next few decades, this emerging approach will be re-defining and shaping all aspects of travel and tourism. It is poised to give rise to new, more Earth and community-centric trends in the entire ecosystem of related disciplines that make up ecotourism."
- Kinga Monica, Regenerative Coach and Sustainability Innovator
My experience tells me that transformational and regenerative tourism can and should address this challenge. In this piece I would like to share some insights and ideas relating to regenerative tourism and how this emerging realm is shaping hospitality in new exciting ways. As a delegate and a speaker at Eco Resort Network's annual prestigious in-person networking event, I will present my innovative work and share best up-to-date practices with an international group of peers within the eco resort and glamping sectors.
As an independent consultant at Earthvoice with a diverse portfolio of award-winning ecotourism development concepts, projects and startups, I guide you through the entire design process of making your venture sustainable and regenerative long-term.
Running a multifaceted high-end hospitality business can be a balancing act. I know this first-hand having run successful and award-wining sustainable businesses and projects in the UK and Spain: a hotel, organic restaurant, eco design and innovation centre and activity agency. My community-focused projects that led to the creation of innovative climate and culture multimedia venues in different countries gave me an invaluable insight into what works and what doesn't.
" /> How can a country kick-start systemic greening and bring everyone onboard "The facts of science are real enough, and so are the techniques that scientists use, and so are the technologies based on them. But the belief system that governs conventional scientific thinking is an act of faith." -Rupert Sheldrake Systemic greening instigation – see...
Fossilized rocks in the transitional zone between Lot Owir Ann in Upper Chitral and Ozhor Ann in Lower Chitral mark the path to the Terichmir Basecamp. Along this route, one encounters an array of rocks adorned with intriguing rock inscriptions. Interestingly, some of these rocks appear to preserve fossils of plants and reptiles, bearing distinct imprints of body scales and characteristic twists indicative of reptilian anatomy. Contemplating the possibility that these rocks indeed encapsulate fossils raises profound questions regarding the historical presence of living organisms in this geographical area. Is proximity to glaciation a conducive factor for fossilization in such regions? Exploring further, one wonders about the nature of reptiles and other fauna that thrived in this locale during the epochs under consideration, prompting a cascade of inquiries. A pertinent facet to consider is the relatively brief history of life's existence in the mountainous terrains of the Hindukush, Karakoram, and Himalayas. It is believed that human migration to these areas coincided with the thawing of glaciers, a historical timeline spanning thousands of years. During this transitional period, reptiles, herbivores, carnivores, and avian species also underwent migration, shaping the ecological dynamics of the region.An alternative hypothesis posits that the region might have...
