|
About us
Eco & Sustainable Tourism Israel is a non for profit organization,
established on 2006,
in order to promote
awareness and
implementation of sustainable principles and
practices in
Israel's tourism
industry. The organization vision
is to: “Turn the Israeli tourism industry into
a
vehicle for conserving natural and cultural
resources and enhancing local communities' self
sufficiency and empowerment capabilities".
To fulfill our vision and work with all relevant
stakeholders with various platforms and
frameworks, including: website,
professional
workshops and lectures, educational and
marketing events and materials.
For more
information see this power point presentation.
The organization operates according to the following
definitions:
Sustainable tourism is: "a development that meets the
needs of the present tourists and
host
regions while protecting and enhancing the
opportunity for the future. It is envisaged as
leading to
management of all resources in such a way that
economic, social and aesthetic
needs can be
fulfilled, while maintaining cultural integrity,
essential ecological processes,
biological diversity
and
life support systems".
(World Tourism Organization)
Ecotourism is: "a responsible travel to natural
areas that conserves the environment and
improves the well-being of local people"
(The International Ecotourism society). Therefore,
Ecotourism's
goals are:
1.
Improve conservation capabilities
2.
Strengthen local tourism industry
3.
Improve communities' well being
4.
Enrich tourists' experience
Our team
Michal Wimmer-Luria, Founder & CEO
MSc in Environmental Management,
Wageningen University,
the Netherlands. Her office
prepared the 'Yarqon
River Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan' for the
Yarqon River
Authority and the
'Strategy and Action Plan on
Sustainable Tourism' for the Ministry of
Tourism.
Lecturer in the Hebrew and Ben Gurion
Universities and in professional workshops.
Dor Havkin, V.RPS.
and Director of ecological development
Certified
permaculture consultant by the
Brisbane Permaculture institute, Australia, and an
environmental
implementation consultant. Builder of grey water
recycling systems. Lecturer
in workshops for green
building, permaculture, etc.
|
