East Africa International Year of Ecotourism Conference

The United Nations has declared 2002 as the International Year of Ecotourism (IYE), showcasing how wildlife and local villages benefit from Environmentally and Community Orientated (eco) travel.

International ecotourism conferences will be held in late 2001 and 2002, revolving around the Quebec, Canada May 2002 summit conference. IYE forces the ecotourism industry to clarify its goals, identify effective tools and act on the models that will make it a long-term contributor to cultural and environmental conservation. The East Africa conference will address reducing tourism's negative impacts in natural areas and how to provide benefits to parks and local people through practical, cutting-edge environmental methods.

As The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) has already been inundated with journalists asking for more information on ecotourism and IYE, this is a chance to spotlight East Africa's fabulous ecotourism choices, having a real affect on destinations and holidays worldwide. Tourists will have greater access to information on ecotourism through the media; more people will find out about eco- travel and its ethics. For the already converted, there will be more information on eco-destinations and sites that need further protection. Indirectly, tourists will also benefit from discussions on the ecotourism industry's hot topics, such as ecotourism certification, which aims to help tourists make informed choices on their ecotourism trips and lodging.

For more information on the IYE and East African ecotourism, contact Eco-resorts, a TIES corporate member and advisory board member at anne@eco-resorts.com

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