Is there a market for this type of sustainable travel in the tourism industry?

There is a market for this type of sustainable travel, although it is not large. Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaii members are providing ecotours to Hawaii’s visitors daily. If all of the more than 8 million visitors to Hawaii each year wanted to do ecotourism, however, we soon would not have anything left to see. […]

Read more →

What are the benefits to this type of holiday / vacation?

The benefit of this type of holiday is that people are learning and experiencing topics, and seeing sites, that fit their interests. A large pre-packaged tour can never be personalized because of the commercial nature of it. The typical tour provider is more interested in the profit than in providing an unforgettable experience to the […]

Read more →

Can you justify the price for this type of vacation / holiday to this destination?

In Hawaii we do not have ecotourism destinations, but rather have providers of day trip activities that focus on natural and cultural resources. Because of the impact of many people on the natural resources, most tours are for small groups of 10 to 15 passengers. Day trips can run from less than $100 to $500 […]

Read more →

What is Sustainable Tourism?

Sustainable Tourism is defined by the United Nations World Tourism Organization as Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities. The Hawaii Tourism Authority defines it as a way to maximize social and economic benefits to […]

Read more →

How does STAH authenticate Hawaiian culture?

While STAH does work with local cultural practitioners to integrate Hawaii’s host culture into our programs, we do not intend to be the authority. Certification requires that each tour operator provide credible references for the cultural material they share with visitors.

Read more →