Cornells Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise, Gap Adventures, and Planeterra Partner to Assess Real Costs of Managing Tourism Destination
Summary
Toronto, Canada, February 26, 2011 --( “Tourism brings large financial resources to countries around the world, but it is without a true understanding of the capital and operating costs to make this possible,” said Megan Epler Wood, executive director of Planeterra.The partnership between Cornell, Gap Adventures, and Planeterra seeks to more clearly identify the costs of managing the infrastructure, ecosystems, and social and historic fabric upon which the tourism industry relies.Demonstrating its ongoing cultural, social and economic commitment to responsible tourism, Gap Adventures established the Planeterra Foundation, as a way the company and its travellers can give back to the communities visited.In Central America alone, the value of tourism has risen to well over $4 billion in foreign exchange annually.“We’ve introduced travelers to unique destinations and cultures for 20 years, and are working hard to continue to do so, far into the future,” says Richard G. Edwards, Gap Adventures’ Marketing Director.Demonstrating its ongoing cultural, social and economic commitment to responsible tourism, Gap Adventures established the Planeterra Foundation, as a way the company and its travellers can give back to the communities visited.