Bethlehem Palestine: A World Heritage in Danger

I've been writing a lot lately about endangered species.  Have you ever thought about other things that may be endangered in the world? Languages, artifacts, art, music and more can all become "extinct" or lost if there is no special care taken.  Just within the last week, music from Pink Floyd, Simon and Garfunkle, and John Travolta were added to the Library of Congress to preserve them.  They also added the first recording from outer space.  You may be thinking you'd be fine without John Travolta's "Staying Alive," but these are things that have made up our culture.  It could only take a few generations for some of these memories to be gone forever if there is no care given.  

Picture from Atlastours.net

Just as there are animals and music that need to be saved, there are also world heritage sites in danger.  The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization or UNESCO was created to help preserve some of the most important sites in the world.  These are places that make our world what it is today.  If they are lost, a part of the world's culture is lost with them. One example is Bethlehem, Palestine.  Many people consider this to be the place where Jesus Christ was born.  Whether you are Christian or not, Christ plays an important role in culture around the world.  The Church of the Nativity specifically was recently granted protection by UNESCO.  This is thought to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ.  

Usually when a site needs help from UNESCO it is because they are not sustaining themselves in the right way.  Those who have managed the site have not collaborated well with corporations around to keep the site thriving.  They have also had a hard time finding a fit between the community and tourism.  Some have complained about the cost of going, or rude security in the church.  This leads me to believe that they have had a hard time finding a balance between their community and tourism.  It is hard for those who live there to find any time to worship while it constantly has tourists there.  

I can't go a blog without writing about the animals.  There is one place that doesn't need any help being preserved, because it is following all the principles of a sustainable program, and that is the Georgia Aquarium.  This aquarium, located in Atlanta is the largest aquarium in the world, and helps people stay informed about all sorts of animals underwater that they otherwise may not know about.  These are the principles that really keep them sustainable.

Beluga Wale-Photo from Georgia Aquarium

1. Collaboration-The aquarium makes sure it works with local companies to advertise and get the word out about their amazing experience.  They also work with others for discounts and special deals.

2. They find the fit between community and tourism-The aquarium is a big enough attraction that people from all over the world will visit.  However, they make it easier for people in the community to come by offering season passes at a much cheaper rate than those who only come one time.

3. They make the site come alive-The site is filled with activities that are not only educational, but entertaining.  They include a dolphin show/musical and one gigantic display that holds over a million gallons of water, where you can go in a tunnel surrounded by sharks, whales and dozens of other sea animals.

4. Focus on quality-People want to have a good time when they are learning, and the quality of the experience here is shown by reviews.  People love taking their whole family to see the animals.

5.  Preserve and protect resources-Not all, but some of the animals featured are endangered and being protected.  Their studying of the animals and protection helps save and grow them for the future.  

Picture from SeaTurtleConservancy.org

Isn't it always a great feeling when you go on a trip and you feel like you got a great deal? The Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) organization follows some great principles that help you save money while helping give back to the local area that you are visiting.  Many communities really need the support they get from tourism.  Here are some of the principles that the Sea Turtle Conservancy Organization follows that I really like:

-Fair Working conditions: All volunteers are made sure that they will be able to meet the physical requirements of of the trip.  Water is available and people can take a break if needed.

-Fair Prices: Sea Turtle Conservancy is very transparent with their prices.  They also offer three different options based on accommodations. This way you can save money if you don't mind sharing a room with someone else.  They let you know up front that air fair can not be included in their price, since everyone will be coming from.

-Integration into the  Local Economy: While STC fares include most of the costs of your stay, it does not include meals.  This helps people to get in to the community and eat at the local restaurants after a long day of volunteer work.  While in town, people have a great chance to shop at local stores, which is great for the economy there.

-Fair Trade Partnership Between All Actors in Tourism: Since people can save a lot of money staying in a dorm rather than a traditional hotel, this gives them a bigger chance to spend those dollars in the local community.

-Environmental Justice: STC is very clear that the adventures provided are not simply tours, but scientific research projects.  Rather than just see sea turtles, people get a chance to interact with and help save them.  I can't think of what could be better for the environment than that!

These five areas make up the pillars of fair trade and responsible tourism.  
When you go on your next tour, make sure to take these in to consideration.  Every community needs companies like this that can help the local economy thrive!