Developing
Ecotourism Government
and
Responsible Place
Citizens
Travel:
The Role of Visitors
Government

How about we do something
more powerful, more meaningful?
What if we helped cities express
themselves and share their voice?
- Chris Brogan

How well do government websites show …
 local tour operators?
 relevant tourism associations?
 sites travelers should visit?
 information centers and kiosks?
 news about upcoming events?
 public transportation options?

 What are the examples of best practices?
 How should government websites be evaluated
 by locals?
 by visitors?

Conservation
Community Business

www.planeta.com/ecotravel/tour/players.html

The virtuous Government
circle
Place
Citizens
begins with
virtuous
Visitors
government.

• Australia
• Ireland
• Laos
• Mekong
• South Africa

weplan.parks.vic.gov.au

www.failtreirland.ie

www.ecotourismlaos.com

www.exploremekong.org

www.capetown.travel

 Direct
 More visitors
 More engaged visitors seeking and promoting
ecotourism, rural tourism, indigenous tours
 Indirect
 Deeper branding
 General increase in overall happiness

 Within government
 Buy in from leaders
 Patience
 Continuity
 External
 Conversations
 Patience
 Continuity

Tool (noun) – something used in
performing an operation.
- Merriam-Webster

Delicious
Flickr
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Wiki

 Delicious
 Twitter
 Facebook
 Yahoo Groups
 Flickr
 YouTube
 Google Earth
 Wikipedia
 LinkedIn
 Wikispaces
 Ning
 Wordle
 Slideshare
 Skype

critics

collaborators

silo thinking

open conversation

Planeta.com invites officials from
local, regional and national
government offices to help us
edit our place-based guides.
Not sure where to start? Help us
with logistics – how do visitors
arrive and where can they find
reliable information on the
ground?

Planeta.com hosts the annual
Ecotourism Spotlight Award
to encourage local, regional
and international government
websites to spotlight
responsible travel and
ecotourism.

Government websites are encouraged to …
 1) Create informative, content-rich websites
with timely and accurate information, including
direct links to local operations.
 2) Participate in conversations with locals and
visitors via Web 2.0 and face-to-face
meetings.
 3) Add the logo and link for the Award

 Create an inventory of the top niche blogs, flickr
groups, websites covering your target markets.
 Offereditorial suggestions to authors and
bloggers
 Make it easy for locals and visitors to share
feedback.
 Participate on other websites.

 Participate in Flickrmeets and Photosafaris
 Create a Wiki website
 Help media pros edit content

 Buy ads
 Host Web 2.0 workshops and training
 Offer press trips and assist media pros who
don’t want to go on a press trip
 Sponsor videos

 Government
planeta.wikispaces.com/government
 Long Tail
planeta.wikispaces.com/longtail
 Toolbox
planeta.wikispaces.com/tools
 Workshops
planeta.wikispaces.com/workshops

 What are the ‘little things’ that governments can
do to improve conversation with locals and
visitors?

 What can government officials do in house (and
usually behind the scenes) to create a positive
working environment in favor of ecotourism and
responsible travel?

 How can governments best work with media
pros and bloggers?
 What recommendations do media pros have for
government officials?

Typically, the value
of social media
becomes clear
only through
repetition.

Ron Mader
www.planeta.com
twitter.com/ronmader