Vacations are very personal, and perhaps even more so with volunteering holidays. Until now, the process for finding and selecting the right volunteer vacation for each individual’s interests has been a difficult one. Users of GoVoluntouring.com will be able to search through a massive directory of programs and projects. They can customize their responses through search filters such as; destination, age range and fitness level. Users will have direct and transparent access to the projects and programs that fit their unique needs and interests. This is a one-stop shop and an invaluable resource for the travel industry. For non-profits, and charities it’s the chance to speak with would-be volunteers at no cost and vice versa. This speaks to GoVoluntouring’s unwavering mandate to empower those who need it the most.

The concept was created by founder Aaron Smith of East Vancouver in Canada. As an experienced overseas volunteer with a deep history in travel and tourism, Smith looked at the way people travel, and then asked, “What is the purpose of recreational travel, is it truly fulfilling, and what will be its legacy?” His research pointed to recreational travel existing in purpose to “recharge one’s soul through new experiences” and that current habits are often failing to meet that purpose.

A taste of some of the projects available on the GoVoluntouring website includes:

· Be an “agent of change” for women in Tanzania – Help local women make crafts and develop marketing plans as part of the Masaai program located in Arusha, Tanzania, near the base of Kilimanjaro. www.subsaharanadventure.com

· Go on a Sea Turtle Adventure in El Salvador – Explore El Salvador’s best wildlife hotspots with famed ocean explorer Fabien Cousteau, grandson of Jacques Cousteau. www.seethewild.org

· Build Solar Power Systems in Nicaragua with Power to the People – Work on bringing solar electricity to community buildings in rural areas of the developing world. www.powertothepeople.org

· Join a research team in the Cost Rican Rainforest – monitor turtle population and jaguar predation surveys as you become part of a valued research team. www.gviusa.com

Responses to GoVoluntouring.com have been overwhelmingly positive, Stuart MacPherson, Online Marketing Manager for Global Vision International (GVI) comments, “At GVI, we are really looking forward to working with GoVoluntouring. There are so many opportunities available, and to have a service like GoVoluntouring spreading the word about volunteering is refreshing. It will only help to get more people involved in the volunteering sector and giving a little back where it counts.”

GoVoluntouring is an online community for volunteers, overseas teachers, and learners’ abroad that allow users to perform detailed searches from a huge database of projects and programs. With thousands of programs to choose from, GoVoluntouring offers pre-checked charities and non-profits the chance to connect with the volunteers they desperately need, with no added cost to the user or the volunteer organization.

For more information visit www.govoluntouring.com

Las Vegas

Sin City ranked number one as the best taxi destination in the U.S. to hail a taxi beating other top U.S. destinations including Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco. Las Vegas taxis were top rated in four of the seven categories surveyed including the cleanest taxis and the best quality of driving along with best value and friendliest drivers, each of which received 16 percent of the vote.

New York

Home of the famous yellow taxi and The Discovery Channel’s “The Cash Cab,” New York cabbies were rated as the most knowledgeable (30 percent) and most available (37 percent) drivers in the nation. However, survey results highlighted that travelers voted those cabs as some of the worst in the nation in the other categories surveyed. Travelers found that New York taxi drivers lacked friendliness, quality driving, and the city’s cabs provided the least value and lacked cleanliness. New York taxis were overwhelmingly rated the least friendly with 42 percent of the votes and the worst drivers with 44 percent of the votes.

International

London’s iconic black cabs were rated the best (and most expensive) in the world for the fourth year running. London was placed top in five out of the seven categories including safety, friendliness, cleanliness, quality of driving and knowledge of the area. London’s taxis beat competition from other top international destinations including New York (favorite among nine percent of travelers) and Hong Kong (third with seven percent of the vote). Tokyo and Singapore completed the global top five receiving 7% and 6% of the vote respectively, displacing the German city of Berlin and capital of Thailand, Bangkok from last year’s top five.

The world’s best taxis:

Rank

City

%

1

London

28%

2

New York

9%

3

Hong Kong

7%

4

Tokyo

7%

5

Singapore

6%

6

Bangkok

6%

7

Berlin

4%

8

Helsinki

4%

9

Dublin

4%

10

Madrid

4%

Other survey findings include:

From the airport

Taxis are the second most popular mode of transportation, behind the bus, when traveling from the airport or station to a hotel.

Vacation

Research found that more U.S. travelers (46 percent) use a taxi while on a domestic vacation. When Americans travel abroad only 34 percent of travelers hire a taxi.

Safety

Safety is the biggest concern for travelers followed in order of importance by value for money, knowledge of area, quality of driving, availability, cleanliness and friendliness. Survey participants didn’t overwhelmingly rank a U.S. city as having the safest taxis.

Tips

Most Americans tip their taxi drivers. Of those who do tip, 37 percent tip a tenth of the fare, 17 percent tip a fifth of the fare and six percent of travelers never tip their driver.

Pet Peeves

An overwhelming 45 percent of travelers are peeved when a driver smokes while driving, while travelers ranked drivers that were too distracted or too smelly as highly annoying.

Sharing

The majority of travelers (55 percent) would share a taxi (and the cost) with a stranger, while 45 percent would rather ride alone.

Top Five Tips on hailing a cab:

“Have your hotel doorman flag down a taxi for you. I have found that they will not flag a non-authorized taxi. Know how to get to your destination and be prepared to take action if they are not taking you directly there.”

“In most cities it is illegal to deny a person a ride. Don’t ask if they will take you someplace. Get in the cab, sit down and tell them your destination. Also write down their license number and cab number just in case you need to file a complaint.”

“Ask for an estimated fare first.”

“If you are in a foreign country learn how to say ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘receipt’ in their language.”

“Find out the rules of the country, not all (taxis) require tips, some you have to barter with.”

* 4,821 respondents across 23 countries; SINGAPORE, UK, BRAZIL, ARGENTINA, JAPAN, SWEDEN, GERMANY, AUSTRALIA SWITZERLAND IRELAND INDIA SPAIN, CHINA, FRANCE, ITALY, DENMARK, NORWAY, THE NETHERLANDS, HONG KONG, KOREA, MEXICO FINLAND, USA from approximately July 31 – August 20, 2011.

Image via newyorkparkingticket.com

I just got back from a week in Wales, the trip I chose to take the opportunity to “test-drive” a piece of luggage. I had heard that RIMOWA, Germany’s luxury luggage company, had just launched its first line of luggage tailored specifically to the North American business traveller, and this resulted in arrangements for me to sample the Salsa Air. I don’t think you have to be a travel journalist as I am to appreciate the growing importance of convenient, lightweight luggage as airlines increasingly put restrictions on the weight of both checked-in and carry-on baggage. This is my first endorsement of a piece of luggage, but I felt that many aspects of the Rimowa bag that I sampled were quite remarkable and made my trip overseas a lot easier.

(PHOTO: Bea with the Rimowa Salsa Air bag at Toronto airport, en route to Wales.)

I weighed the empty bag and it came in at 7.9 pounds. Because it LOOKS like it’s made of metal, (but is actually made from polycarbonate,) that weight is a nice starting point. The soft-sided bag I usually take came in at 10 pounds, so there’s already two more pounds of chocolate I can bring back with me!

The weight isn’t the main reason the Salsa bag is a joy to travel with – it’s the way it glides effortlessly on its four wheels, despite being loaded to the maximum airline capacity of 50 pounds or 25 kilos. For me, whisking through the airport with it was like having a nimble salsa partner on a polished dance floor! It’s square-edged, so you can also load other bags on top of it, and the glide is just as smooth.

(PHOTO: Bea glides the bag along the streets of Yorkville, Toronto.)

It took a little getting used to the fact that you needed to zip everything into the half that it’s in, and that there aren’t any pockets, compartments or sleeves to separate items into. The solution is to put various things in smaller bags inside. The brand offers quite a number of bags that do have such features, but for this test-drive, I selected the plainest, lightest bag.

I absolutely loved traveling with it! It was heavenly to not have to tilt the bag on its side and drag the weight of it on two wheels, as I usually do. There was no strain on me at all, and I’m sure I’ll save a lot of money on massages if I use Rimowa bags more often! Because of the polycarbonate material of the bag, it’s virtually impossible to damage it. Also, if the airline puts the bag through the mill and it’s covered in little marks, the marks can be rubbed away and your bag is looking like new again.

Here is what the company has to say about the bags:

Salsa Air – RIMOWA’s lightest line of luggage

The Salsa Air collection from renowned German luggage maker RIMOWA, represents the latest advancements in its celebrated Salsa range. The weight is 26% lighter than the regular Salsa and Salsa Deluxe lines making the Salsa Air series the lightest range in Rimowa’s luggage line.

“At RIMOWA we take pride in our reputation for driving innovation in the luxury luggage sector,” said Carsten Kulcke, RIMOWA’s North American Executive Vice-President. “Expectations for ever lighter luggage have risen dramatically over the past several years. Salsa Air offers customers the perfect combination of quality and reliability in a significantly lighter weight format to meet the demands of modern travel.”

RIMOWA was the first manufacturer to introduce polycarbonate luggage, thereby changing the global market forever. Launched in 2000, the Salsa range transformed the luggage category by applying a variety of break-through features and reliable components.

Sporting the familiar Salsa outer shell, each Salsa Air case features the RIMOWA Multiwheel system. The integrated mono-telescopic handle has a new design and is easier to use. The inner lining is as light and durable as parachute silk and the interior netting helps keep everything in its place.

The Salsa Air line has the first-ever recessed TSA combination lock featuring an ABUS lock cylinder, developed and manufactured in Europe. “This represents the cutting edge of technology,” says Kulcke, who explained, “These are next-generation locks.”

The collection comes in four different sizes and price ranges from $475-$575.

About RIMOWA

Founded in 1898 by Paul Morszeck in Cologne Germany, RIMOWA is the world’s premier manufacturer of ultra-lightweight yet extremely durable luggage.  Today Dieter Morszeck leads the company into its 3rd generation building the highest quality aluminum and polycarbonate luggage throughout the world in the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the industry.  The original principals of its founder still hold true today: Superior materials and perfect craftsmanship have made RIMOWA what it is today – A brand for people who are at home en route.  Available at select fine retailers worldwide including RIMOWA flagship boutiques in Beverly Hills, Honolulu and Toronto.

For more information visit www.RIMOWA.com

“I remember being a curious kid looking out at the docks in Long Beach from behind the locked gates that led to the pier,” he said. “I saw this montage of beautiful sails and gleaming boats and the vast expanse of the sea, and I knew it’s where I wanted to be. I simply had no idea how I was going to get there.”

That’s where Jacobson’s journey started, and if he followed the course that most people tend to follow, it would have ended there, too. But sometime after becoming a successful entrepreneur in the travel business, those memories from his childhood and teen years sailing any small boat he could put in the water, started flooding back, and he knew he was ready to live his dream and sail around the world.

“I knew what I had and I knew what I wanted, and all I saw was this wide gulf between the two,” said Jacobson, author of The Boy Behind the Gate (www.larryjacobsonauthor.com). “So, I started putting together a plan, and from those early beginnings, I started to understand that there are some clear, distinct keys to building the bridge between what you have done and what you dream of doing.”

Some of those steps, according to Jacobson, include:

· Write it Down – Something magical happens when you write down your dreams. They become a lot more real. How do you identify your dreams? Ask the right questions. What lights your fire? What makes you want to bound out of bed every morning, instead of meander out to the coffee pot? But those are very broad questions, with even broader answers. When you think of those answers, write them down. I did. I still have the piece of paper I wrote them on back in 1991.

· Face Fear — Fear can be a giant wall, seemingly impossible to scale. For instance, when we left the coast of Mexico to sail 2,750 miles across the Pacific Ocean without seeing a bit of land, I had never before navigated a boat across an ocean. Keep in mind, it’s not like you just point the boat south and the next thing you know, you’re dancing in a Tahitian skirt drinking beer under the swaying palm trees. I was petrified. And the only way I could move through my fear was to haul up the anchor and say, “Let’s go.” If you’re waiting for a marching band to herald your big decision, you’ll be waiting forever. I will never forget the arrival in the Marquesas Islands, 21 days later. At first, you don’t see the land, you just smell it. It smells like dirt, soil, vegetation. And then you see the clouds. The clouds that form over the island and are reflecting the green of the land so strongly that the bottom of the clouds themselves look green. Finally, you see land. When I did, I knew I had done it. I had faced my fears and navigated my own boat across nearly 3,000 miles of open ocean. If you want to truly live an unstoppable life, then you must haul up your own anchor and voyage out beyond your comfort zone to embrace the fear and use it to sharpen your senses.

· Mark the Worth in Every Day – This is not a cliché. This is not about smelling roses. This is about recognizing the value we have in our daily lives. It’s about remembering to listen, to feel, to actually see what we’re doing and appreciate each moment of our lives. Just before crossing the Indian Ocean, I was sitting up on the foredeck, looking out over the expanse of ocean that would be my home for the next 19 days. I had to pinch myself. “Look! Look at what you’re about to do. You’re going to sail your own boat across the Indian Ocean!”

And after missing a tsunami that surely would have killed me in a wall of water, avoiding deadly pirates and surviving almost drowning while being tangled in an anchor line at the bottom of the Red Sea, you better believe that I mark the worth in every single day that I’m here on this earth breathing.

“Check in with yourself every day.” Jacobson said. “Do you wake up in the morning looking forward to the day, or do you have a knot in the pit of your gut that makes you dread the day? The primary rule of living an unstoppable life is to live it with laughter, passion and love. Each of our lives IS an adventure. If you live with laughter, love, and passion, and live with every ounce of energy you have, then you’ll live an Unstoppable Life.”

About Larry Jacobson

A California native, Larry Jacobson grew up on the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, sailing, kayaking, swimming, and scuba diving. A recognized expert in the corporate marketing world, he was president of one of the premier incentive travel companies. An avid sailor, he has over 50,000 blue water miles to his name. Larry is a motivational speaker and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Gavin has been a keen supporter of WTM World Responsible Tourism Day since it was launched five years ago to educate, motivate and inspire travel companies to engage in year-round responsible tourism activity

Gavin, aged 45, came within 250m of the summit on each of his last five attempts to conquer Everest. But recently he achieved his goal.

“By getting to the top of Everest, Gavin has joined an extremely elite international club of climbers”, said Fiona Jeffery, chairman of World Travel Market and pioneer of responsible tourism.

“But by promoting WTM World Responsible Tourism Day at the summit, he demonstrated that responsible tourism is indeed scaling new heights.

“Gavin is among a growing band of enthusiastic industry professionals who are helping to make WTM World Responsible Tourism Day into a global phenomenon. Responsible tourism is becoming an essential part of a company’s strategic direction.”

A programme of presentations, debates, seminars and a networking reception is spread over three days at World Travel Market in London this year, although the main focus is on the actual day, Wednesday 9 November.

Of his feat to reach the top of Everest, Gavin said: “It was an amazing feeling. You can see the curvature of the Earth, the sky is black because you can see space.

“Your brain can’t quite compute the height that you’re at.

“You’re just beside yourself with emotion.

Logo User Applications

Applications to use the 2011 WTM World Responsible Tourism Day official logo on sales, marketing and communications materials are now being examined to ensure they meet criteria.

Approved participants receive listings in the WTM catalogue, route planner and WTM WRTD website. They are also invited to the highly popular WTM WRTD networking reception, which last year was attended by more than 300 people.

Apply to use the official WTM World Responsible Tourism 2011 logo by clicking on to www.wtmwrtd.com or by contacting the WTM WRTD co-ordinator Araminta Sugden on the WRTD hotline telephone +44 (0) 1892 535943; email wtmwrtd@janelarcombecommunications.com

“Come visit Europe when there are fewer crowds and explore the great cities of Europe at more affordable pricing,” said Patrick Tsung, president of GLP Worldwide Expedition Travel and Tours. “You have the same distinctly European and cruise experience but at a less expensive time of year while taking advantage of the Canadian dollar value now against the euro, “ added Tsung.

GLP is offering a number of 2 for 1 pricing on select sailings including the following:

Legendary Danube – departure date – November 9, 2011

Legendary Danube – departure date – November 21, 2011

Blue Danube Discovery – departure date – November 1, 2011

Blue Danube Discovery – departure date – November 3, 2011

Enchanting Rhine – departure date – November 18, 2011

The Legendary Danube tour spends 3 nights in Prague before departing on a fascinating cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest stopping in cultural iconic cities like Salzburg, Vienna, Melk and Budapest. The 2 for 1 offer is only applicable on cruise only bookings. Deposits must be made by August 31, 2011. Cruise only prices begin at $1,999 CAD per person. New bookings only, not applicable to groups and cannot be combined with other promotions.

There are more than 30 other AMA Waterways sailings where GLP is offering a $300 per person discount. Please check with GLP for full details on the terms and conditions of the offer and which sailings are applicable.

AMA Waterways leads the cruise industry with its fleet of eight luxuriously appointed vessels all designed with passenger comfort in mind. There are two new ships that have joined the fleet, the MS AmaBella and the MS AmaVerde – two 162 passenger vessels with the most modern and innovative facilities available today.

The 32 -page brochure AMA Waterways brochure is available and provides information on Included Features, Daily program elements, cabin categories, ship sailing dates and prices (in Canadian dollars), photos of the scenery and attractions, AMA Waterways’ premium experience features, and photos and complete description of the six vessels. The 2011 and 2012 AMA Waterways brochure is online as well at www.glpworldwide.com. It can be downloaded from the website.

There are 18 different cruise itineraries in the brochure including a 14-day Provence and Spain cruise. The Russian Waterways 12-day cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg is always a popular one and in 2011 a completely renovated and reconstructed vessel, the MS Amakatarina will be used. The ship will carry 212 guests in 106 staterooms, with 76 that feature balconies.

Enjoy AMA’s premium experience which includes the following features: ships accommodate a maximum of 150 passengers (excluding the MS Amakatarina which has 212) ; spectacular 360 degree riverside views; small group shore excursions; complimentary High-Speed internet and Wi-Fi; flat panel TV’s with comprehensive entertainment options; staterooms with French balconies, gourmet dining and nightly entertainment; hair and beauty salon and massage therapist; complimentary bicycles; elegant public areas, and professional and friendly staff.

For further information please contact GLP Worldwide at tel: (905) 258-7778 or toll-free at (866) 760-1987; fax: (905) 258-7779; email: info@europeanwaterways.ca; www.europeanwaterways.ca. For a complete listing of cruises and land tours GLP Worldwide Expedition offers go to www.glpworldwide.com

The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will support the Recovery Plan designed by the Ministry of Tourism of Tunisia to revive the tourism sector. The agreement was reached during the recent official visit of UNWTO Secretary-General to Tunisia (April 20-21, 2011).

President Fouad Mebazaa underlined the importance of tourism to Tunisia as a “basic sector of the country’s economy.” Meeting President Mebazaa, UNWTO Secretary-General showed confidence in the rebound of tourism and in the future of the country. “Remarkable changes have occurred in Tunisia, and the future is bright,” he said.

During a joint press conference with the Minister of Tourism Mehdi Houas and the UNWTO Secretary-General expressed his full support to the Tunisian tourism sector. “Tunisia is, and will continue to be, a leading tourism destination. Tourism is not in crisis in Tunisia, rather it is living the natural impact of the significant changes that have occurred in the country,” said Mr. Rifai. “It is now time to show the world the real situation of Tunisia and the world will see that Tunisia is ready to receive its visitors.”

Furthermore, the UNWTO Secretary-General warned against the temptation of short-term recovery measures based on lower prices and stressed that medium- and long-term prospects for the tourism sector in Tunisia are even more positive than before. “The new environment,” he said, “can create new open and transparent conditions for investment in tourism, namely foreign investment, and unlock significant local business potential.”

UNWTO support to Tunisia will include technical meetings of the Tourism Recovery Task Force created by the Ministry of Tourism with UNWTO experts on communication, the holding of a workshop in Tunis for public and private sector representatives on recovery techniques, and the organization of a major tourism international conference in Tunisia in the last quarter of 2011.

Representing 6.5% of the country’s GDP and accounting for 450,000 jobs, tourism is a key driver of the economy in Tunisia and will play a critical role in its socio-economic stability and future development. In 2010, Tunisia received nearly 7 million international tourist arrivals, generating US$2.7 billion in export revenues. During the first three months of 2011, international tourist arrivals decreased by 44% and receipts by 43%.

Source: www.unwto.org

“Climate change is the pre-eminent geopolitical and economic issue of the 21st century. It rewrites the global equation for development, peace, and prosperity.”

IIPT 5th African Conference LaunchIn announcing the conference last month, Zambia Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Catherine Namugala said, “The effects of climate change are exerting a heavy toll on the entire life chain. It is worth noting that climate change is a major threat to sustainable growth and development in Africa, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Impacts of climate change include among others, increased incidence of both drought and flooding, desertification, sea level rise, reduced freshwater availability, decreasing fish resources, cyclones, impacts on food security, all of which have an impact on tourism,” Minister Namugala said.

Conference Aim

The aim of the 5th IIPT African Conference is to showcase models of ‘best practice’ in mitigating and addressing the anticipated impacts of climate change to tourism in Africa and the developing world.

Conference Goals

1. Demonstrate the critical linkages of climate change to tourism and poverty reduction.

2. Identify factors and practices that contribute to “Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change to Tourism” while continuing to grow and nurture sustainable tourism development that lifts people out of poverty.

3. Promote Public- Private Sector – NGO – Civil Society partnerships and collaboration towards socially and environmentally responsible sustainable tourism development.

4. Continue “Building Bridges of Tourism, Friendship and Collaboration” among nations in Africa and other regions of the world in support of the UN Millennium Development Goals while recognizing that we are all custodians of our planet’s bountiful resources and majestic beauty.

Featured Speakers will include

Geoffrey Lipman

Geoffrey Lipman

Director, GreenEarth Travel

Zoltan Somogyi

Zoltan Somogyi

Executive Director, Member Relations UNWTO

Hon. Ezekiel Maige

Hon. Ezekiel M. Maige, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Tanzania

Ben Sherman

Ben Sherman, President, Western American Indian Chamber

Catherine Namugala

Hon. Catherine Namugala, Minster of Tourism, Environment, and Natural Resources, Zambia

Hon. Eng. Walter Mzembi

Hon. Eng. Walter Mzembi (MP), Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Zimbabwe

John Koldowski

John Koldowski, Deputy CEO, PATA

Jayesh Ranjan

Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Secretary, Tourism, Government of Andra Pradesh, India

To register, please click here.

Topics to be Addressed

• Climate Change: Policy and Planning to PracticeVictoria Falls, Zambia

• The Central Role of Parks and Wilderness Areas

• Multimedia Approaches to Promote Public Awareness

• Sustainable Strategies and Practices from Diverse Regions

• Perspectives on Sustainable Destinations

• The Human and Cultural Dimensions of Climate Change

• Mitigating the Driving Factors of Climate Change

• Returns on Investment from Conservation Practices

• Strategies for Marketing and Tourism Investment

• Preserving Bio-diversity for Future Generations

• Forums for Responsible Travel and Tourism

• Traditional Approaches to Preserving Bio-diversity

• Establishing Guidelines and Business Strategies for Sustainable Tourism

• Coastal Tourism Strategies and Water Management

Timeliness and Importance of Conference

The year 2010 ranked as the warmest on record, together with 1998 and 2005. The 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1998. Arctic sea-ice cover in December 2010 was the lowest on record. Last year also witnessed a large number of extreme weather events, including an extreme heat wave in Russia and devastating floods in Pakistan. This year has begun with extreme flooding in Sri Lanka, flash flooding near the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, and severe flooding in eastern Australia, expected to be the most costly natural disaster in Australia’s history.

Background

UNWTOIn 2007, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), jointly with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with the support of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Swiss Government, convened the Second International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism, in Davos, Switzerland, with the aim of responding to climate change imperatives in the tourism sector. The conference set out a range of specific policies and actions to be taken by all stakeholders in the tourism sector to immediately begin to establish and implement a long-range, carbon-neutral roadmap.

The 5th IIPT African Conference will seek to identify actual ‘on-the-ground’ progress since the 2007 Conference with case studies of ‘best practice’ from each of the developing regions of the world and from governments, destinations, industry sectors, NGOs, researchers and academics, and the media.

www.iipt.org

In fact, back in 1997, he toured 40 different countries over 11 months, spending only $3,700 the entire trip. He slept on the streets, in airports, and at times, in a guest house. And that’s why he thinks he’s been so fortunate. For him, it wasn’t about seeing the world – it was about meeting the people along the journey.

“I know how to speak four languages, but I found the one universal language is human kindness,” said Biernacki, author of No More Heroes (www.globalhenry.com), a novel loosely based on the true stories of his travels. “I’d literally get on a plane with no worries, no luggage, land in Argentina or any country and just start walking around. The only thing I had to think about was if I needed a Visa for a particular country. I’d sit down at a local café or in a park and just start talking to some of the locals. After a while, some of them would say ‘We don’t want to keep you from where you need to go,’ and I’d tell them I had nowhere to go. I was just there to see their country. After an hour or two, one of them would invite me back to their home for a meal and a place to sleep. I can’t tell you how many times that happened. This is why I write in dialogue and in a very descriptive manner.”

Biernacki’s open and earnest attitude is not only reflected in his traveling style. It also earned him a spot as a Virgin America airlines spokesperson featured in print ads and billboards around the country. While he makes a living as a pilot, which affords him the ability to fly around the world, Biernacki feels that his real occupation is that of traveler.

“The people I met – these weren’t dignitaries or celebrities. They were real people, just like you and me,” he added. “They worked for a living, raised their families and just wanted to live by a certain code of human kindness. I never felt like a guest, and they never treated me like a foreigner. So, no matter where I went, I always felt like I was home.”

Biernacki never felt like he was ever in danger when he traveled. No matter where he went, he discovered that the differences between peoples and cultures would fade into the background the more he got to meet people.

“Even before I was a pilot, I traveled,” he said. “For me, it was a compulsion, but it wasn’t about seeing the Eiffel Tower or Trafalgar Square. It was about meeting people, talking to them and getting to know how they lived and what they cared about. I found that, for the most part, they were the same as we are.

Many of them envied the freedom we enjoy in the U.S., but I never got the feeling like they had an issue with me as an American. To them, I was just Henry, the guy they met at the park. It didn’t matter to them where I came from, which God I worshipped or how I felt about world affairs. If people can get anything out of the trips that I’ve taken and the people I’ve met, I want it to be that we should try to think a little more like them. Once you get past the politics and the religions and the cultures, people all around the world value pretty much the same things we do. They respect a hard day’s work, learning about someone new and living a healthy pleasant life.”

About Henry Biernacki

Henry Biernacki has traveled to more than 120 countries and continues to travel. He holds a BA in Romance Languages (French/Spanish) and International Affairs. In high school, he was a four sport letterman, whittling it down to only two sports in college. He has lived in France, Germany, Taiwan, The West Indies and Mexico before returning to the United States. Today, Henry is a captain for one of the top airlines in the United States. He flies an Airbus319/320 and has flown Boeing’s 747-400/757/767.

More than half of the world’s poorest countries has identified tourism as an effective means to take part in the global economy and reduce poverty. To maximize tourism’s role in helping countries reach their development goals, UNWTO has come together with seven UN agencies and programs to boost tourism as an instrument for development.

In order to better position tourism in the development agenda and maximize this potential, UNWTO has come together with seven UN agencies and programs – the International Labour Organization (ILO), International Trade Centre (ITC), UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UN Development Program (UNDP), UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the World Trade Organization (WTO) – to create the UN Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD).

By harnessing the strengths and expertise of each agency and creating synergies between UN organizations, the committee will deliver more coordinated, effective, and efficient technical assistance and support to developing countries.

One of the first activities of the committee will be the holding of a Special Tourism Event at the Fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC-IV) to be celebrated in Istanbul, Turkey, May 10, 2011.

The event, “Promoting Tourism for Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction,” will set the scene for a new international framework for development through tourism, providing the opportunity for LDCs, UN agencies, and key players of donor countries and other institutions to find ways to foster tourism for development and create mechanisms for LDCs as they seek to combat poverty, diversify their economies, and pursue inclusive growth strategies.

The role of tourism in increasing LDCs’ participation in the global economy, and as a means of poverty reduction, will be the focus of the World Export Development Forum (WEDF), the International Trade Centre’s flagship event, held this year at LDC-IV in partnership with UNWTO (Istanbul, Turkey, May 10-11, 2011). The WEDF will focus on the role of the private sector for tourism-led growth and inclusive sustainable development through the creation of key pilot projects.

RELEVANT LINKS:

Joint Tourism Special Event – Promoting Tourism for Sustainable Development and Poverty Reduction: http://www2.unwto.org/en/event/promoting-tourism-sustainable-development…

World Export Development Forum – Private Sector Engagement with LDCs for Tourism-led Growth and Inclusive Sustainable Development: http://www.intracen.org/wedf/

Source: www.unwto.org