Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference

Features Voluntourism Activities for the First Time

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. June 17, 2010

PORTLAND, OR - June 16, 2010 - For the first time in the event's history, delegates of the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) held Sept. 8-10 in Portland, Oregon, USA will have the opportunity to participate in actual volunteer activities during field sessions. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) and the destination hosts Travel Oregon and Travel Portland are working with the ESTC Voluntourism Partner Planeterra, a world leader in volunteer travel, to bring volunteering to the forefront this year in recognition of the increasing importance of voluntourism as a niche of sustainable tourism.

This is the first time that TIES is offering hands-on volunteer activities at its annual conference, and the delegates will be invited to be part of the roll-up-your sleeves, hands-on voluntourism field sessions offered at the ESTC 2010. The voluntourism field sessions include the opportunities to create a community garden, and to work on ecological restoration at an outdoor environmental education center and wildlife refuge.

“Come get your hands dirty!” says Laura Guimond, Communications & PR Manager, Sustainability, Travel Portland. “These opportunities are a great representation of the many ways individuals can make a positive difference when visiting a community.” In addition to consistently receiving the recognition as “the most sustainable city” in the country, Portland, Oregon - according to VolunteeringInAmerica.gov - is among the leading US cities with largest numbers of volunteer activities.

Richard G. Edwards, Planeterra Director, said this effort underscores the increasing importance of voluntourism as a niche of sustainable tourism.

“These field sessions will allow delegates to get a hands-on voluntourism experience and give back during their visit to Portland. This is the type of activity we encourage travelers to participate in that leads to a richer traveler experience and inspires people to continue to give back. Our community development projects around the world benefit from receiving volunteers who in turn continue to contribute for years afterwards thanks to the connections they made and their desire to make a difference over the long term.”

Voluntourism sessions are planned for a half-day at the beginning of the conference, Wednesday, September 8, at the outdoor environmental education center, Columbia Springs, and for Thursday, September 9 at one of Portland Parks and Recreation's community gardens. A third activity planned for Friday, September 10 at Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge will give participants a chance to do maintenance on a tree-planting project. Each project offers the opportunity to positively contribute to the sustainable development of the Portland Area, and highlights key elements of voluntourism that typify the over 50 diverse, life-enhancing projects Planeterra spearheads in 25 countries around the world.

In addition to the field sessions, the ESTC 2010 will also feature a Voluntourism Panel (Thursday, September 9, 6:00pm - 7:30pm) with international experts discussing issues surrounding this nascent tourism niche. There are several diverse opinions and complexities interwoven within voluntourism: development implications, travelers' experiences and impacts on host communities, among others. This panel will be open to the public and will serve as a platform to gain insight and best practices for operators and travelers alike.

About the ESTC
The Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) is North America's largest and only conference focusing on sustainability in travel and tourism. A leading international meeting place, the ESTC brings together innovative minds from across the industry to discuss practical ideas and solutions that inspire positive changes. Hosted by Travel Portland and Travel Oregon, the ESTC 2010 (Portland, Oregon, USA, September 8-10, 2010) will bring together 500+ business leaders, tourism professionals and community stakeholders. Registration is now open.

About Planeterra
Planeterra is a global nonprofit dedicated to sustainable community development through travel. Founded in 2003 by Gap Adventures, Planeterra evolved out of a long history of travelers committed to finding ways to give back to the people and places they visit. Planeterra selects the projects and works with Gap Adventures to arrange voluntour travel programs worldwide. For information on Planeterra's year-round voluntour programs click here or call 416-260-0999.

ESTC 2010 Volunteer Partner Organizations
Columbia Springs, a natural environmental education center is a 100-acre, urban green space where visitors can explore nature trails, observe birds and wildlife, and visit a working trout hatchery. Columbia Springs' goal is to provide environmental education to the community through on-site education for local students and off-site through outreach programs.

Portland Parks & Recreation's Community Gardening program is an important way of linking health, environmental and social issues by providing a space for urban inhabitants to plant fresh, healthy and organic food. There are 32 community gardens located throughout the city, developed and operated by volunteers and PP&R staff, offering a variety of activities.

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is one of only a handful of urban national wildlife refuges in the United States. Situated just a few miles from Oregon's largest city, the Refuge comprises less than 1% of the 712 square mile watershed. Yet, due to its richness and diversity of habitats, the Refuge supports some of the most abundant and varied wildlife in the watershed. The Refuge has also become a place where people can experience and learn about wildlife and the places they call home.