Comments for Tourism 101 http://tourism101.org A Knowledge Exchange for the Travel and Tourism Industry Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:26:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 Comment on Logos versus Slogans by Paul http://tourism101.org/archives/26/comment-page-1#comment-977 Paul Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:26:43 +0000 http://tourism101.org/?p=26#comment-977 Six Countries, One Journey. And one big word 'Mekong'. No logo required. Six Countries, One Journey.

And one big word ‘Mekong’.

No logo required.

]]> Comment on Making a Difference in Khao Lak Tourism by David Gillbanks http://tourism101.org/archives/23/comment-page-1#comment-347 David Gillbanks Mon, 01 Sep 2008 07:50:57 +0000 http://tourism101.org/?p=23#comment-347 This blog is a great initiative, Peter. Keep posting! This blog is a great initiative, Peter. Keep posting!

]]> Comment on Vietnam’s Mekong Delta and Tourism by Huong http://tourism101.org/archives/21/comment-page-1#comment-265 Huong Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:09:37 +0000 http://tourism101.org/archives/21#comment-265 Hi Peter. I met you once at a PATA Vietnam conference in Da Lat in 2006. I am very interested in Mekong Delta tourism Destination Mgt and Development topic. If possible, I would like to contact you and Mr. Patrick Moran for exchange ideas. Thanks. Hi Peter. I met you once at a PATA Vietnam conference in Da Lat in 2006. I am very interested in Mekong Delta tourism Destination Mgt and Development topic. If possible, I would like to contact you and Mr. Patrick Moran for exchange ideas. Thanks.

]]> Comment on About by Saeng http://tourism101.org/about/comment-page-1#comment-27 Saeng Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:36:52 +0000 http://tourism101.org/?page_id=7#comment-27 Wonderful tourism blog! Wonderful tourism blog!

]]> Comment on Vietnam’s Tourism Competitiveness Ranking by Hawkins Pham http://tourism101.org/archives/18/comment-page-1#comment-24 Hawkins Pham Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:04:23 +0000 http://tourism101.org/archives/18#comment-24 A colleague of yours referred me to your website. I am glad to see a professional tourism critique here in Vietnam. I understand your qualms about SNV's wordy language and respect the fact that you're challenging the validity of Pro-Poor Tourism. But I think you're missing the point. SNV isn't advocating that Vietnam's population remain poor -- they're trying to help poor, rural communities access the tourism market, which you accurately describe as the world's largest industry. I just returned from a fact finding mission with the SNV crew in Son La. Consider the province as the bastard step-child to Lao Cai's Sapa. SNV has been facilitating the conversation between Tour Operators and the local communities vis-a-vis developing the area as a tourist destination. While the number of visitors isn't even a blip on the map (about 300 persons), there is potential in the area. And even though the home-stay programs aren't necessarily high on the agenda of most visitors to the country, foreigners do find these opportunities interesting -- not everyone wants surf, sun and sand. These host villages have two choices: 1) stay in poverty and keep up with their subsistence farming way of life or 2) develop some sort of modest tourism economy based on home-stays, handicrafts, nature tours and visiting tea plantations, and then perhaps they can send their sons and daughters off to college for a better education. A colleague of yours referred me to your website. I am glad to see a professional tourism critique here in Vietnam.

I understand your qualms about SNV’s wordy language and respect the fact that you’re challenging the validity of Pro-Poor Tourism. But I think you’re missing the point.

SNV isn’t advocating that Vietnam’s population remain poor — they’re trying to help poor, rural communities access the tourism market, which you accurately describe as the world’s largest industry.

I just returned from a fact finding mission with the SNV crew in Son La. Consider the province as the bastard step-child to Lao Cai’s Sapa. SNV has been facilitating the conversation between Tour Operators and the local communities vis-a-vis developing the area as a tourist destination. While the number of visitors isn’t even a blip on the map (about 300 persons), there is potential in the area. And even though the home-stay programs aren’t necessarily high on the agenda of most visitors to the country, foreigners do find these opportunities interesting — not everyone wants surf, sun and sand. These host villages have two choices: 1) stay in poverty and keep up with their subsistence farming way of life or 2) develop some sort of modest tourism economy based on home-stays, handicrafts, nature tours and visiting tea plantations, and then perhaps they can send their sons and daughters off to college for a better education.

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