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ECOCLUB, Issue 92
Education for communities -in any remote or natural region in Bolivia and around the world- is paramount and is the key to
both sustainability and poverty reduction: By means of taking part in a cooperative community project; or owning a small eco-
farm; or eco-agro tourism business; or eco-lodge, among others. Good “Education” ensures better job opportunities, better pay
and progressive career building:
•
The installment of “Environmental Learning and Investigation Centers’ (ELIC) coupled with educational programs
toward: renewable energy, environmental farming, eco-mining and forest management” among others; that are linked
with “community owned or managed eco- lodges or
eco-agro tourism.” According to each region infrastructure,
environment, demand and supply. As well the authorization and operating permission of the government and local
communities;
•
A project proposal of the ELIC (Spanish version) written by Rues in 2003 –is available for implementation- based on
practical experiences and involvement – since 1976 - within the sustainable tourism systematic development process in
four Latin American countries, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela and Mexico.
2) Partnering with International Organizations, NGO’s, Hotels and Tour Operators The best advise for integrated
responsible sustainable tourism development in Bolivia for the future are both cooperation and partnerships within the private
and public sectors. A strategy that has proven relative success in Bolivia in the “Stage One Development - 1994 –1996:” As
outlined through the experiences and practices in this document, with the key players; National Chamber of Commerce,
SENATUR, ETAB, La Paz Hotel, Universidad Catolica Boliviana, CAF, Tour Operators, RHS EcoFriendly Hotels, RHMC,
Media, and new partners:
•
Since the 50’s International hotel chains, hoteliers, organizations actively got involved toward integrated tourism
pursuing a systematic development process around the world. But in most cases – in developing countries - they have
targeted the higher markets;
•
Causing a greater gap between the “upper class of eco-lodgings” and the “lower and mid class eco-lodgings” every
year. This development is wrong in the eye of environmental responsible hoteliers. For it does not help to reduce
poverty. On the other hand, “the mid income eco-tourists do not have the opportunity to visit remote nature areas”;
•
In the emerging eco-tourism destinations, more deluxe eco-resorts/hotels than lower-mid priced eco-lodges have been
built and developed since the mid 90’s. The upscale eco-resorts/hotels trend development is growing faster in
comparison to the lower priced eco-lodges since 2006.
For the above reasons timing again is right to support and take part in the continuing systematization development process; in
the same way as the key players did, by Working Together and to diligently collaborate to place Bolivia within “The Race of
International EcoTourism Development” on the world market. The basic structure for “Partnering with International
Organizations, NGO’s and Hotels” could be as following:
1.
Horizontal participation, cooperation and development with the same key players and new ones, for examples,
RIDELC, CEBEM, REDESMA, FAN, GTZ, UNEP, UNESCO, US-AID, CAF, World Bank, nature scientists, all
national parks among others, represented per region; La Paz and the Altiplano; Santa Cruz and the Lowlands; Sucre,
Cochabamba and Central Valleys and the Amazon;
2.
The community based ecotourism facilities; indigenous family homes, lodges, guesthouses, camps are to be grouped
in two areas:
a)
Remote natural area, near and/or in national parks and reserves; and
b)
Rural and agricultural areas close to historic villages and smaller cities;
3.
The ecotourism facilities, according the existing or to be build infrastructure shall have either a small “Environmental
Learning and Investigation Center” (ELIC) or could function as an arm of the partner university(s) or extension
courses of continuing education programmes, or field studies as suggested earlier. The ELIC should be coordinated and
supported by the partner university(s) NGOs, and other stakeholders in the projects;
4.
The commitment: each of the partners shall become an active player in the
systematization progress of responsible tourism development;
5.
The benefits of the ELIC for the “community based ecotourism facilities are numerous, a few examples as following;
•
Providing education to the marginalized communities;
•
By promoting tourism –sustainable and study tourism- poverty will reduce;
•
Providing on site extension courses and field studies of all environment related topics –for 10 to 30 persons- for
both students, faculty, professionals in the field; nature science, renewable energy, hotel and tourism professionals
and eco-tourists. And naturally for all communities who live in the nearby area, in addition with related topics;
health care, sanitation, HIV, and others.
The above mentioned project recommendation of the “Bolivian Initiative for Integrated Sustainable Tourism Development’
(BIISTD) of Private, Public Partnerships” (PPP) could be developed in other countries around the globe. The BIISTD would
serve as the “model project” that shall be launched first in this country. Hence, Bolivia would take the role as leading principal
partner, with the head office in Bolivia.
3) Environmental law enforcement and policies for the hospitality industry
Law enforcement should be on the top priority list as well because: The biggest problem in Bolivia and most countries in Latin
America in the 90’s and in 2006 was and is the lack of environmental law enforcement and policies for the hospitality industry.
On the contrary, the preservation laws at national parks and reserves in Bolivia that are administered by the Servicio Nacional
