Mano Cambiada

This Colombian tourism business, located in the nuqui – choco region of Colombia, was started by two local women.  These women submitted their business plan in a contest, which they ended up winning and receiving start-up funding as their prize.  Mano Cambiada is a community run ecotourism company that is heavily focused on sustainable development of the region.  They aim to link the value chain, as they call it, which is all of the fishermen, craftsmen, innkeepers, restaurateurs, etc.  This leads to a more organic experience for tourist and more respect for the host community.  Mano Cambiada also does social projects like a migration festival and an artist residence in the area.  This company exists to improve conditions for the region via tourism. 

Mano Cambiada is an excellent illustration of the cornerstones for fair trade and responsible tourism.

Fair working conditions: this company promotes tourism as a means to improve living conditions in the area as well as to promote autonomous management and leadership by the people who live there

Fair prices: this company uses its funds, grants and partnerships to promote sustainable tourism

Integration into local economy and regional development: mano cambiada aims to link the local economy together which leads to a better experience for tourists and better results for the local community.  The choco region is an extremely unique ecosystem that mano cambiada looks to protect, which is why they promote sustainable development.

Fair trade partnerships: mano cambiada has several partnerships and grants, including one with the U.S. Agency for International Development, (USAID)

Sustainable resource use and environmental justice: this company is all about sustainable resource use and promoting environmental justice.  This is why they exist, to protect the local environment and community, and to promote sustainable development to improve the region.

Tourism Risk Management

I found a great website called "economia autonoma" which has tons of information about tourism risk management, specifically in South America.  This site summarizes all of the risks facing tourists and how to minimize those risks.  Also it talks all about how tourism and terrorism are influenced by things like the economy, media, drugs and drug trafficking.  They look ahead to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics that are being held in Brazil.  These massive, global events will cast the world's gaze on Brazil and South America for an extended period of time.  It is extremely important for these events to focus on safety for the many tourists that will be attending.  For each of these issues, this website gives a bunch of tips to improve the common tourist's risk management abilities.

Kidnapping in South America

In 2004, South America accounts for 65 percent of the entire world's kidnapping cases.  This is a serious issue in the entire region.  That number has decreased because of increases in kidnappings in other regions of the world since 2004.  Still, large numbers of tourists flock to South America each year.

In 2009, Washington Nationals catcher, Wilson Ramos, was kidnapped at gunpoint outside of his mother's home in Venezuela.  He was rescued two days later.  He was kidnapped by common criminals trying to make some easy money.  Kidnapping committed by common criminals is happening more often than those done by drug cartels or guerilla terrorist organizations in the area.

My name is Dillon and I am the author of this blog.  I have created this blog for my PRT International tourism class.  The topic that this blog will be about is tourism and terrorism.  International tourists need to be aware of the dangers they face.  In this blog I will share experiences of those who have dealt first hand with this type of terrorist activity.  I will also explore the industry of terror and tourism and try to understand why this criminal behavior is happening.this blog will also be a way for me to share advice and tips on how to stay safe and not become a target.  So thank you for checking out my blog and I hope you enjoy reading.