Ecotourism ChallengesTips on participating in an online dialogue

OBJECTIVEThe objective of the dialogue is to highlight ecotourism as a means of greening the tourism industry.

We welcome first-hand accounts from New Zealand and Australia. Share your experiences and insights and learn from others. A summary of the dialogue will be published on Planeta.com and circulated at upcoming conferences.

TOPICS• Clarification on what constitutes ecotourism• Tourism campaigns and promotion• The role of councils and local communities in tourism planning• Responding to carbon emissions concerns and long-haul travel• Concessions and land management• Indigenous people and tourism

PARTICIPANTSActive participation in the dialogue is limited to professionals working in the field and requires registration on the Planeta Forum.

Others are welcome to listen.

POSTING

PREPARATIONBUDGET TIME - We ask active participants to sufficient time to prepare messages and to read other posts. One to four hours a week is required of active participants.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF - Your first post should introduce your professional background in ecotourism in New Zealand or Australia. Let us know where in the world you work. Introduce a few of the talking points you'd like to address in the coming weeks. If your work is documented online, include the URL.

PREPARATIONPREPARING MESSAGES - We suggest a word limit of 500 words or two or three short paragraphs. Instead of posting a long message, offer to email the document or better yet, place it on another website and include the URL in your post.

SPELLLING - If you have software for spell checking, please use this technology and then copy and paste.

RECOMMENDED READING

Harrison Owen Open Space Technology: A User's Guide

PLANETA.COMOnline since 1994 Planeta.com celebrates environmental conservation and responsible travel around the globe. Hundreds of contributors and thousands of readers make this Planeta.com the global journal of practical ecotourism.

RESOURCESAdditional resources include our guides to writing media releases, organizing press trips and greening events. Our forum features topical dialogues and a review of Web 2.0 technologies in tourism.