User:See-N-e-v-e-r-M-i-n-d/Gondwana Ecotours: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Sustainable tourism firm}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} |
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{{Infobox company |
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| name = Gondwana Ecotours |
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| trading_name = |
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| former_name = |
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| logo = |
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| logo_size = 210px |
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| type = [[Privately held company]] |
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| industry = Industrials |
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| traded_as = |
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| founder =Jared Sternberg |
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| foundation = {{Start date and age|2013}}<br />in [[Alaska]] |
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| hq_location_city = |
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| hq_location_country = [[Alaska]] |
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| area_served = Worldwide |
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| key_people = |
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| services = |
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| num_employees = |
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| owner = |
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| website = {{URL|https://gondwanaecotours.com/}} |
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}} |
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'''Gondwana Ecotours''' is an [[Alaska]]-based [[Sustainable tourism|sustainable travel]] company specializing in small group and private [[Escorted tour|escorted tours]] to bucket-list destinations worlwide. Founded by Jared Sternberg in 2013, it offers itineraries in five different countries across three continents.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Diane |first=Daniel |date=15 December 2015 |title=To Protect the Land, Jared Sternberg Turned to Tourism |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/15/travel/to-protect-the-land-jared-sternberg-turned-to-tourism.html |url-status=live |access-date=16 April 2024 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> Each tour focuses on highlighting the destination’s nature, wildlife, and culture.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Ballard |first=Julia |date=11 February 2016 |title=New Orleans Startup Offers Sustainable Ecotours Worldwide |url=https://siliconbayounews.com/2016/02/11/new-orleans-startup-offers-sustainable-ecotours-worldwide/ |url-status=live |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Silicon Bayou News}}</ref> |
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The name “Gondwana” refers to the ancient supercontinent that existed 500 million years ago.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=What is Gondwana? {{!}} Gondwana Ecotours |url=https://www.gondwanaecotours.com/a-history-of-life-what-is-gondwana/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website= |publisher=Gondwana Ecotours |language=en-US}}</ref> The company visions the “world as one” and its mission is to connect people across continents through travel.<ref name=":1" /> All itineraries focus on offering tours with soft ecological footprints, ensuring that guests have memorable experiences that are good for local environments and the planet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-15 |title=Sustainability: A committment to our planet|url=https://www.gondwanaecotours.com/sustainability/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Gondwana Ecotours|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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== History == |
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California native, Jared Sternberg, was living in New Orleans when he founded Gondwana Ecotours in 2013 after graduating from Tulane University Law School.<ref name=":0" /> As a graduate of environmental and human rights, Jared wanted to help Indigenous and underserved populations preserve land and natural resources.<ref name=":0" /> |
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Jared became a volunteer assisting in projects such as constructing a school in Africa and teaching English in the Amazon.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Elaine |first=Glusac |date=20 April 2016 |title=5 Hotels and 5 Tours for the Eco-Conscious Traveler |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/travel/hotels-tours-ecotourism-green-travel.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> While volunteering in the Ecuadorean Amazon Rainforest with the Achuar Indigenous Nation, he was inspired to create Gondwana Ecotours after realizing the positive benefits ecotourism could offer economically and emotionally.<ref name=":0" /> |
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Gondwana Ecotours helps guests travel responsibly, something the company emphasizes is about supporting local environments, cultures, and communities by minimizing negative impacts and maximizing positive experiences.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olds |first=Laura |date=2023-03-12 |title=Responsible Tourism 101: Examples of How to Be a Responsible Tourist - A Piece of Travel |url=https://www.apieceoftravel.com/responsible-tourism/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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== Sustainability & Partnerships == |
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Since 2016, the company has been certified by the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA) through its Adventure Green Alaska (AGA) certification program.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Gondwana Ecotours |url=https://www.adventuregreenalaska.org/aga-businesses/gondwana-ecotours/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Adventure Green Alaska |language=en-US}}</ref> This voluntary certification program for Alaska-based tourism businesses evaluates companies' operations to determine if they meet standards of economic, environmental, and social sustainability.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adventure Green Alaska |url=https://www.alaskatia.org/opportunities/adventure-green-alaska |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Alaska Travel Industry Association |language=en}}</ref> The company has also been certified by Green America, which has examined its social and environmental commitments and contributions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zienchuk |first=Judi |date=2014-04-22 |title=Top Ecotourism Experiences Around The Globe |url=https://epicureandculture.com/ecotourism-companies/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Epicure & Culture |language=en-US}}</ref> Gondwana Ecotours is also a member of the International Ecotourism Society, the Green Business Network, and Responsible Travel.<ref name=":2" /> |
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In 2021, Gondwana Ecotours partnered with Cooler, a social venture founded by Michel Gelobter, to neutralize carbon emissions and has become one of the few tour companies to be 100 percent carbon-neutral.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-21 |title=14 sustainable travel companies you can feel good about booking with |url=https://www.timeout.com/travel/sustainable-travel-companies |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Time Out Worldwide |language=en-GB}}</ref> This partnership neutralizes the impact of their tours’ carbon footprint. Cooler calculates tour-by-tour carbon footprints and buys the equivalent amount of pollution permits within tightly regulated markets from over a dozen states in the USA.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.cooler.dev/approach |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Cooler}}</ref> This makes available permits more scarce to industrial polluters and contributes to the rising price of permit costs, encouraging companies to find more environmentally conscious operation methods.<ref name=":4" /> |
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This same year, Gondwana Ecotours became a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Active Tour Operators |url=https://membership.adventuretravel.biz/tour-operator/active |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=membership.adventuretravel.biz}}</ref> which is the largest global network of adventure travel leaders to share commitments to sustainable tourism.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=About The Adventure Travel Trade Association |url=https://about.adventuretravel.biz/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=about.adventuretravel.biz}}</ref> The association connects to collaborate on visions for more sustainable business practices.<ref name=":5" /> |
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In addition to carbon offsetting, the company prioritizes working with local communities for its sustainability efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hansen |first=Nicole |date=2023-08-30 |title=10 Eco-Friendly Tour Companies You Should Know About |url=https://www.thetravel.com/eco-friendly-tour-companies/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=TheTravel |language=en}}</ref> It implements scouting trips to their destinations in search of guides, hotels, and restaurants.<ref name=":3" /> As a result of these trips, Gondwana Ecotours integrates locally-owned accommodations, restaurants, and activities into their itineraries to support local economies.<ref name=":3" /> The company also hires local guides who care for their surrounding areas and are passionate about preserving the environment for their communities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-07 |title=13 Eco-Tourism Companies To Help You Book Your Next Sustainable Adventure |url=https://www.sustainablejungle.com/sustainable-travel/eco-tourism-companies/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=www.sustainablejungle.com |language=en-AU}}</ref> |
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It continues to increase its own sustainable operation practices by hosting small group sizes to mitigate impacts on destinations’ environments, providing reusable water bottles to all guests, and incorporating sustainable learning into relevant tour itineraries.<ref name=":3" /> |
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Gondwana Ecotours also makes donations to local communities. Such partnerships include supporting Aspire Rwanda, a nonprofit offering vocational training and living spaces for single mothers and on-site schooling for their children.<ref name=":0" /> It also donates to the Maasai Community Development Initiative, supporting the local Maasai tribe that guests can visit on its Tanzania: Great Migration Safari.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=DRIFT |date=2020-01-27 |title=Gondwana Ecotours Announces 10-Day Tanzania Great Migration Camping Safari |url=https://drifttravel.com/gondwana-ecotours-announces-10-day-tanzania-great-migration-camping-safari/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Drift Travel Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> The company donates about 10 percent of its profits to the communities of its destinations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-20 |title=Tulane June 2017 by Tulane University - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/tulaneuniversity/docs/tulane_june_2017 |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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