El Salvador Ecotourism on the Rise with New Workshop

In anticipation of becoming a major international and regional tourism destination, El Salvador has partnered with The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) and the Business Foundation for Social Action (FUNDEMAS) in order to launch a long-term project to establish a national strategy for the sustainable development of tourism in El Salvador.
First on the agenda is [...]

In anticipation of becoming a major international and regional tourism destination, El Salvador has partnered with The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) and the Business Foundation for Social Action (FUNDEMAS) in order to launch a long-term project to establish a national strategy for the sustainable development of tourism in El Salvador.

First on the agenda is for the partnership to launch he Ecotourism and Sustainable Development in El Salvador Workshop 2008, to be held in February 2008. Attendees will include industry and government leaders, international tourism professionals and community representatives from across the country. The workshop will feature expert speakers focusing on key policy, development and business issues.

The workshop content is based on preparatory visits conducted by TIES and FUNDEMAS in July 2007, which involved various interviews in the National Departments of Chalatenango, Cuscatlán, Morazán, La Unión, and Usulután.

“The Ecotourism and Sustainable Development in El Salvador Workshop 2008,” says Christina Cavaliere, TIES director of training and education, “will play a crucial role in integrating the principles of sustainability into the future tourism development in El Salvador by educating business leaders, policy makers and community stakeholders, and by creating a national network of ecotourism and sustainable tourism stakeholders.” TIES is providing technical assistance in identifying and prioritizing viable strategies for ecotourism development in the country; bringing together various stakeholder groups and decision makers to form partnerships; and providing resources and expertise to help implement a national ecotourism and sustainable tourism approach.

For more information on TIES and FUNDEMAS, go to www.ecotourism.org or www.fundemas.org.