| | |  Travel & Outdoors | December 2009 
Oaxaca Responsible Tourism Fair Jan 17-30
 planeta.com
December 31, 2009
A group of friends in Oaxaca, Mexico are creating the Responsible Tourism Fair (January 17-30), our 10th event since 2001 and a veritable model of frugality and slow travel.
About the Fair
The event - now in its 10th year - is held each January as a way to kick start the new year. The objective of the Responsible Tourism Fair is to highlight the numerous options locals and visitors have. This fair is also a working experiment to model what constitutes an authentic, eco-friendly, people-friendly grassroots event.
Visitors have a number of options, including weaver-guided walks in Teotitlán del Valle, photo safaris in public parks and authentic indigenous meals including Caldo de Piedra (Chinanteco), Maatsy (Mixe) and tamales (Zapotec-style).
Self-guided treasure hunts asks foodies to try various cheeses, chocolates and mezcal. Photographers are invited to share photos in relevant Flickr Groups with prizes to be awarded at the end of the fair.
About Oaxaca
"Increasingly visitors demand more of their experiences and are opting toward slow travel to explore places in depth," Planeta.com founder Ron Mader explained. Rising costs of transportation are leading many travelers to select fewer places to visit for longer periods of time. "Oaxaca, Mexico could be the world's capital of slow travel and for visitors to rural communities, entering into the rhythm of the community provides numerous benefits," Mader said.
Oaxaca is world-famous for it's slow food and slower drink, mezcal. Also of note are the state's innovative folkart and traditional crafts. Artisans, such as the weavers in Teotitlán del Valle, are eager to show visitors the process by which they make such beautiful work. Events include walking tours in rural towns, encounters with indigenous people, slow food extravaganzas and the popular Video night.
Responsible Tourism
Responsible tourism is treating others the way they wish to be treated. A growing number of travelers want their journeys to be less invasive and more beneficial to the local community. They want to better understand the culture of the people they meet in the places they visit. Travelers should be mindful that we are entering a place that is someone else's home. Interpretation begins long before the trip and ends long afterward. Those who enjoy a trip will look back fondly for the rest of their lives.
"The signs are encouraging. Global tourism is experiencing a massive transformation in '00s," Mader said. "With a plethora of Responsible Tourism events we are reconnecting with friends who aspire to responsible tourism everyday. The purpose is to creatively set an agenda for 2010 that connects the natural and virtual worlds. Live local. Think Global. Travel abroad but don't leave home until you've seen the country!"
Rural Tourism
The significance of rural tourism runs broad and deep. The fair examines the development and promotion of the niche around the world and underscores the importance of educating visitors about rural tourism services. "We cannot expect travelers to treat the rural countryside in a responsible or ethical manner if they have not been given proper information ahead of time," Mader said. "Too often the logical links between urban and rural settings are ignored, diminishing the effectiveness of tourism development and job creation. The fair connects the dots and showcases best practices."
"The fair emphasizes a 'small is beautiful' approach to tourism," Mader said. "Most visitors to rural environments do so in small groups and the fair reflects mindful practices."
For more information, click HERE or visit Planeta.com. |
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