Sustainable Travel International Forges New Links in Indonesia

After finalizing a comprehensive, first-of-its-kind agreement, Sustainable Travel International (STI), a non-profit global leader in sustainable development and responsible tourism, will collaborate with Ecolodges Indonesia (ELI), an eco-tourism 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.

Sustainable Travel International’s mission is to promote sustainable development through responsible travel by providing programs that help travelers, businesses and destinations protect the environment, preserve cultural heritage and promote economic development.

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. The company’s four Ecolodges emphasize wildlife conservation and improving the livelihoods of local communities where the properties are located.

Both STI and Ecolodges Indonesia support the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism Criteria initiated by Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), launched at the World Conservation Congress in October 2008.

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 tourism meets its potential as a tool for poverty alleviation.