Mission
Solimar's mission is to support sustainable tourism through small business development, marketing, and sales.
Vision
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimates that there were more than 691 million International Travelers that generated $523 billion dollars in tourism receipts in 2003. Tourism is the largest industry in the world employing 1 in 12 people worldwide. The WTO Tourism 2020 Vision forecasts that international arrivals are expected to reach over 1.56 billion by the year 2020.
In the developing world the 50 poorest countries rank tourism as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in economic activities. It is for this reason that Solimar visions sustainable tourism as a development tool for emerging economies providing poverty alleviation, economic growth, sustainable development, environmental conservation, inter-cultural understanding and peace among nations,
To achieve this Solimar understands that tourism must follow the following principles developed by the International Ecotourism Society (TIES).
Tourism should:
* Minimize impact
* Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
* Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
* Provide direct financial benefits for conservation
* Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people
* Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate
* Support international human rights and labor agreements
Sustainable tourism is a development tool that when implemented correctly will benefit the host destination and local communities for future generations.
Destination marketing program
Sustainable tourism marketing
