NEW SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL LINKS IN INDONESIA

Boulder, Colorado (January 8, 2010)–After finalizing a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind agreement, Sustainable Travel International (STI), a non-profit global leader in sustainable development and responsible tourism, announced today their collaboration with Ecolodges Indonesia (ELI), a pioneering, ecotourism provider operating in an emerging economy, with a focus on biodiversity conservation and enhancement of local community livelihoods. The new collaboration will address the role that growing consumer awareness plays in turning efforts to go green into long-term business solutions for tourism providers.

Ecolodges Indonesia is one of the first to pursue international sustainable tourism certification in Indonesia, and is committed to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals through their ecotourism investments and operations.

Both STI and Ecolodges Indonesia support the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism Criteria initiated by Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation, and the UNWTO. These criteria identify the minimum standard that any tourism business should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources, while ensuring that tourism achieves its potential as a tool for poverty alleviation.

“Working together, STI and ELI will draw on collective experience and a triple-bottom line approach to promote and implement our respective products and services in order to support sustainable economic development in local communities, while focusing on biodiversity conservation – namely wildlife – in Indonesia,” says STI President Brian Mullis.

His remarks are supported by Dr. Alan Wilson, Chairman of the Board of Ecolodges Indonesia: “We are only a small, but growing company with a strong corporate social responsibility agenda, and are excited to become one of STI’s ‘Premium Partners’. Working with STI, we can continue to promote responsible travel and ecotourism, support local communities in their efforts to work toward sustainable development, and help travelers better protect the cultures and environments they visit”.

Specific components of the collaboration agreement include:

Eco-Certification: Starting with the Udayana Kingfisher Ecolodge in Bali, ELI will complete STI’s Sustainable Tourism Eco-certification Program to become the flag-ship/inaugural STI certified property in Indonesia. Each of the other ELI Ecolodges will subsequently strive to attain eco-certification.

Carbon Offsets: In conjunction with STI, ELI will develop a carbon offset program to create projects that directly support rainforest conservation in Indonesia.

Travel Philanthropy: ELI will establish and provide travel philanthropy projects specifically focusing on wildlife, environment and local economic development. These projects will be included in STI’s Travelers Giving Back project database, and other market outlets.

STI and ELI will work with a number of other partners, such as the Scientific – Academic – Volunteer – Educational (SAVE) Travel Alliance, National Geographic and other non-government, government and private sector organizations, to identify and utilize additional resources for sustainable tourism development. They will also address the education and training needs of protected areas adjacent to ELI operations:

• Way Kambas National Park, Sumatra, near Satwa Elephant Ecolodge: www.ecolodgesindonesia.com/satwa/index.html
• Tanjung Putting National Park, near Rimba Orangutan Ecolodge: www.ecolodgesindonesia.com/rimba/activities&tours.html
• Komodo National Park, near Bajo Komodo Ecolodge: www.ecolodgesindonesia.com/bajo/index.html

Contacts:

Sustainable Travel International, Brian Mullis, President, [email protected]

Ecolodges Indonesia, Dr. Alan Wilson, Chairman, [email protected]

Steve Noakes, Director, [email protected]

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