Help need in Tourism Co-Operative
- Thread starter POOJA23
- Start date
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- Tags
- cooperative req tourism
nick18_in
Nikhil Gadodia
Re: HELP REQ................
Hey Pooja,
What kinda information r u looking at?? If you could give us more briefing.. we would be able to help you out..
I think there was someone last time who had asked about similar kind of project & ppl had replied him with good suggestions... I think Pooja u can try to find out that thread & use for ur project...
Hey Pooja,
What kinda information r u looking at?? If you could give us more briefing.. we would be able to help you out..
I think there was someone last time who had asked about similar kind of project & ppl had replied him with good suggestions... I think Pooja u can try to find out that thread & use for ur project...
ankitgokani
Ankit Gokani
Re: HELP REQ................
check out dis site u will get all the info u can include in ur project
Cooperatives and Tourism : An Asian Perspective
check out dis site u will get all the info u can include in ur project
Cooperatives and Tourism : An Asian Perspective
Re: HELP REQ................
Mistahaya Wayatinaw Tourism Co-operative
Date of Incorporation: October 2000
Membership: 8 - 12
Activity: This Marketing and Shared Service Co-operative combines administration, resources, and education for eco- tourism businesses in Tumbler Ridge.
Organisational Form : Marketing and Shared Service Co-operative
Area Served: Tumbler Ridge, BC
Introduction
Mistahaya Wayatinaw is a Cree term meaning Grizzly Valley. In the summer, co-op members tell me, the bears will often wander into the town centre. I am here in early spring-the bears are still sleeping. Stand ing on a snow-dusted ridge, I overlook a frozen river which cuts a sleek winding trail through the valleys. The banks are dotted with moose tracks; I wonder if this is the main moose highway in the wintertime. Two ravens circle overhead and I consider the words of one member, "If I told you that I will bring 20 000 people through this forest and I guarantee you that it will look the same in 20 years, what would you say?"
Background
Tumbler Ridge is celebrating its 20th anniversary as a municipality in Summer 2001. At the same time, members of Mistahaya Wayatinaw Tourism Co-operative begins their first season as eco-tourism operators. Tumbler Ridge, an hour and a half drive off the beaten path of the Alaskan Highway's famed Mile Zero, is in the middle of the Yellowstone to Yukon corridor. The town is a product of mining, and the boom and bust feeling unique to resource towns is pervasive. The amenities at the community centre rival any private club in West Vancouver. The streets, town hall, hospital, school and businesses all look like they were built in the same month. They are all squeaky clean and fresh looking. Yet when you travel through the residential areas, every other house has a for sale sign in its window.
Vision and Goals
The co-operative was incorporated in October 2000 by eight members. The members are a diverse group with a common dream. The members (including new parents, a local councillor, bird breeders, and former miners) all share a vision of creating self-employment that maintains ecological integrity and diversifies the economy in Tumbler Ridge. Their mission statement reads, "The Mistahaya Wayatinaw Tourism Co operative will hold a unique position with in the tourism industry in Northern B.C. as being the sole provider of the most friendly, most varied and most ecologically sound visitor experience available in the region." The co-op is dedicated to sustainable development within the Tumbler Ridge community through, "educational initiatives, facilitation/ incubation of local tourism-related small business, development/ improvement of tourism related facilities as well as subsequent local employment initiatives."
Purpose of the Co-op
Members of the co-operative each have their own eco-tourism business. The businesses include hiking and trekking, birding, a bed and breakfast, and self-propelled water sports, such as canoeing and kayaking. Each member runs their business autonomously from the co-op, but works within the co-operative's well-defined membership guidelines. Being a member of the co-op provides several benefits to individuals. The co-operators pool resources in order to increase the volume of business and reduce costs for individual members. The co-op plans to enhance business by creating tour packages combining two or more member's services: "...by pooling tours and services to construct complete vacations we can draw people here from across the globe, and keep them here for longer periods of time."
Members save money through shared services and collective purchases. The marketing services offered by the co-op include a web page, print advertising, brochures in tourist info centres and representation at trade shows. Co-op members also save money by jointly purchasing insurance and having a shared administra tion through a receptive tour operator who provides office equipment, wilderness gear, preferred customer rates (e.g. long distance phone calls) and training.
Start-up
The member businesses (Raven and Raptors, Wapiti Wilderness Excursions, Kinuseo Bed and Breakfast, and Sun Salutation Yoga) incorporated the co-operative in October 2000. The co-op received financial assistance through the Co-op Advantage Program, from the BC Ministry of Community Development, Co operatives and Volunteers. The co-op used the funding to train members in eco-tourism ethics and prac tices, Bear Aware programs, wilderness first aid, as well as hire DevCo to assist with the development process. DevCo helped the group establish their goals, membership guidelines and incorporation papers. Mistahaya created a marketing plan which included the development of a central web page, advertising in well read publications, representation at national and international trade shows, and an annual vacation catalogue for global distribution. They were assisted in achieving these goals by both local and national organisations.
Issue: Eco-tourism or Adventure tourism?
The members of the co-operative had a tough decision to make in their early organizing stages. How rigidly did they want to apply conservation principles to their eco-tourism concept? The term eco-tourism is often conflated with adventure or outdoor tourism. This is a source of conflict within the industry, and conse quently was a much-debated topic within Mistahaya.
Outdoor tourism activities in Northern BC include hunting and snowmobiling. These activities have a negative impact on the environment. When the founding group was recruiting members, adventure and outdoor tourism businesses of the Tumbler Ridge community expressed interest in the co-op. After many discussions the group decided that activities such as snowmobiling did not fit comfortably with the vision and principles of the co-op. This, not surprisingly, created conflict within the community. The co-op decided to refer clients to non-member tour operators if tourists are seeking hunting guides or snowmobile rentals. The co-op's clearly articulated member guidelines was a positive outcome of this debate.
Member guidelines
The membership guidelines are published in a brochure produced for two purposes: new member recruit ment and potential clients. The guidelines are divided into the following sections: 1) Efficient Use of Re sources, 2) Efficient Waste Management, 3) Skills and Standards, 4) Education and Information, and 5) Wilderness Ethics. In order for any individual, operator, or organisation to be considered for membership in the Mistahaya
Wayatinaw Tourism Co-op, the following guidelines must be striven for at all times.
1. Efficient use of resources
Water, energy and resources must all be used and consumed efficiently.
Efforts must be made to employ alternative, more environmentally friendly energy sources.
Fuel consumption must be monitored and limited.
The co-op will provide group transportation that must be used to transport guests to and from destinations and tours.
All co-op members will order necessary supplies in coordinated, bulk fashion to reduce the impacts of both excess shipping and packaging.
Purchases for equipment, materials, and supplies will be made from responsible , ethical suppli ers and business whenever possible.
Priority for the purchase of supplies, food, and materials will be given to local businesses first.
Whenever possible, co-op members are expected to use recycled materials and products.
2. Efficient Waste Management
All trips, outings, etc must follow the "pack it in, pack it out" principle of minimum impact travel.
In addition to using recycled materials, it is expected that members will recycle all recyclable materials, re-use or repair equipment whenever possible, and reduce unnecessary consumption.
Solid organic waste must be composted.
Disposable items, such as Styrofoam cups and paper plates are discouraged.
3. Skills and Standards
It is expected that all members will have sufficient basic skills to lead the trips or tours on their itinerary.
Members must possess all necessary equipment for their tours, especially safety gear, and be knowledgeable in its use.
First aid, outdoor survival skills, and orienteering/navigation skills training must be completed.
Customer service skills are expected to be of the highest level, and members are encouraged to seek additional training in this area, such as SuperHost.
Members must be 'Bear Aware" and must follow these guidelines at all times.
Members are expected to continue to upgrade their skills and knowledge, either through private courses, or courses offered through the tourism co-operative.
All members are subject to an annual Operations Audit, to ensure that they are meeting all of the guidelines set forth in this agreement.
4. Education and Information
By its very definition, eco-tourism is designed to educate and enlighten those individuals who undertake such activities. Therefore, all organised activities offered by co-op members must contain an educational component.
Members are expected to ensure that all guests fully understand the services, accommodations, tours, etc that will be offered to the, prior to their arrival.
It is also required that all guests will be informed of the behaviours, attitudes, and actions expected of them while they are participating in the services provided by the Tourism Co operative and its members.
5. Wilderness Ethics
Members are expected to lead through example, sharing with their guests the practice of responsible tourism.
Respect for wildlife, both flora and fauna, will be shown, encouraged and enforced.
Wild animals will not be approached unnecessarily, chased, harassed, or baited to allow for closer observation.
Care will be given to the trampling of flora and trail erosion. All participants on hikes or tours must stay on the trail provided, and refrain from picking plants, or removing any items from the natural environment.
Excess noise, such as radios, tape players, etc. will not be permitted in wilderness areas.
Smoking will not be permitted on trails, other than at designated break sites. Cigarette butts must be carried and placed in trash containers.
Future Challenges
The members of Mistahaya Wayatinaw are motivated to make their co-op a success not only because they desire satisfying self-employment, but also because they are determined to create an example of sustainability. They hope that their first season will be successful and demonstrate to community members that they are both serious business people and environmentalists.
Mistahaya Wayatinaw Tourism Co-operative
Date of Incorporation: October 2000
Membership: 8 - 12
Activity: This Marketing and Shared Service Co-operative combines administration, resources, and education for eco- tourism businesses in Tumbler Ridge.
Organisational Form : Marketing and Shared Service Co-operative
Area Served: Tumbler Ridge, BC
Introduction
Mistahaya Wayatinaw is a Cree term meaning Grizzly Valley. In the summer, co-op members tell me, the bears will often wander into the town centre. I am here in early spring-the bears are still sleeping. Stand ing on a snow-dusted ridge, I overlook a frozen river which cuts a sleek winding trail through the valleys. The banks are dotted with moose tracks; I wonder if this is the main moose highway in the wintertime. Two ravens circle overhead and I consider the words of one member, "If I told you that I will bring 20 000 people through this forest and I guarantee you that it will look the same in 20 years, what would you say?"
Background
Tumbler Ridge is celebrating its 20th anniversary as a municipality in Summer 2001. At the same time, members of Mistahaya Wayatinaw Tourism Co-operative begins their first season as eco-tourism operators. Tumbler Ridge, an hour and a half drive off the beaten path of the Alaskan Highway's famed Mile Zero, is in the middle of the Yellowstone to Yukon corridor. The town is a product of mining, and the boom and bust feeling unique to resource towns is pervasive. The amenities at the community centre rival any private club in West Vancouver. The streets, town hall, hospital, school and businesses all look like they were built in the same month. They are all squeaky clean and fresh looking. Yet when you travel through the residential areas, every other house has a for sale sign in its window.
Vision and Goals
The co-operative was incorporated in October 2000 by eight members. The members are a diverse group with a common dream. The members (including new parents, a local councillor, bird breeders, and former miners) all share a vision of creating self-employment that maintains ecological integrity and diversifies the economy in Tumbler Ridge. Their mission statement reads, "The Mistahaya Wayatinaw Tourism Co operative will hold a unique position with in the tourism industry in Northern B.C. as being the sole provider of the most friendly, most varied and most ecologically sound visitor experience available in the region." The co-op is dedicated to sustainable development within the Tumbler Ridge community through, "educational initiatives, facilitation/ incubation of local tourism-related small business, development/ improvement of tourism related facilities as well as subsequent local employment initiatives."
Purpose of the Co-op
Members of the co-operative each have their own eco-tourism business. The businesses include hiking and trekking, birding, a bed and breakfast, and self-propelled water sports, such as canoeing and kayaking. Each member runs their business autonomously from the co-op, but works within the co-operative's well-defined membership guidelines. Being a member of the co-op provides several benefits to individuals. The co-operators pool resources in order to increase the volume of business and reduce costs for individual members. The co-op plans to enhance business by creating tour packages combining two or more member's services: "...by pooling tours and services to construct complete vacations we can draw people here from across the globe, and keep them here for longer periods of time."
Members save money through shared services and collective purchases. The marketing services offered by the co-op include a web page, print advertising, brochures in tourist info centres and representation at trade shows. Co-op members also save money by jointly purchasing insurance and having a shared administra tion through a receptive tour operator who provides office equipment, wilderness gear, preferred customer rates (e.g. long distance phone calls) and training.
Start-up
The member businesses (Raven and Raptors, Wapiti Wilderness Excursions, Kinuseo Bed and Breakfast, and Sun Salutation Yoga) incorporated the co-operative in October 2000. The co-op received financial assistance through the Co-op Advantage Program, from the BC Ministry of Community Development, Co operatives and Volunteers. The co-op used the funding to train members in eco-tourism ethics and prac tices, Bear Aware programs, wilderness first aid, as well as hire DevCo to assist with the development process. DevCo helped the group establish their goals, membership guidelines and incorporation papers. Mistahaya created a marketing plan which included the development of a central web page, advertising in well read publications, representation at national and international trade shows, and an annual vacation catalogue for global distribution. They were assisted in achieving these goals by both local and national organisations.
Issue: Eco-tourism or Adventure tourism?
The members of the co-operative had a tough decision to make in their early organizing stages. How rigidly did they want to apply conservation principles to their eco-tourism concept? The term eco-tourism is often conflated with adventure or outdoor tourism. This is a source of conflict within the industry, and conse quently was a much-debated topic within Mistahaya.
Outdoor tourism activities in Northern BC include hunting and snowmobiling. These activities have a negative impact on the environment. When the founding group was recruiting members, adventure and outdoor tourism businesses of the Tumbler Ridge community expressed interest in the co-op. After many discussions the group decided that activities such as snowmobiling did not fit comfortably with the vision and principles of the co-op. This, not surprisingly, created conflict within the community. The co-op decided to refer clients to non-member tour operators if tourists are seeking hunting guides or snowmobile rentals. The co-op's clearly articulated member guidelines was a positive outcome of this debate.
Member guidelines
The membership guidelines are published in a brochure produced for two purposes: new member recruit ment and potential clients. The guidelines are divided into the following sections: 1) Efficient Use of Re sources, 2) Efficient Waste Management, 3) Skills and Standards, 4) Education and Information, and 5) Wilderness Ethics. In order for any individual, operator, or organisation to be considered for membership in the Mistahaya
Wayatinaw Tourism Co-op, the following guidelines must be striven for at all times.
1. Efficient use of resources
Water, energy and resources must all be used and consumed efficiently.
Efforts must be made to employ alternative, more environmentally friendly energy sources.
Fuel consumption must be monitored and limited.
The co-op will provide group transportation that must be used to transport guests to and from destinations and tours.
All co-op members will order necessary supplies in coordinated, bulk fashion to reduce the impacts of both excess shipping and packaging.
Purchases for equipment, materials, and supplies will be made from responsible , ethical suppli ers and business whenever possible.
Priority for the purchase of supplies, food, and materials will be given to local businesses first.
Whenever possible, co-op members are expected to use recycled materials and products.
2. Efficient Waste Management
All trips, outings, etc must follow the "pack it in, pack it out" principle of minimum impact travel.
In addition to using recycled materials, it is expected that members will recycle all recyclable materials, re-use or repair equipment whenever possible, and reduce unnecessary consumption.
Solid organic waste must be composted.
Disposable items, such as Styrofoam cups and paper plates are discouraged.
3. Skills and Standards
It is expected that all members will have sufficient basic skills to lead the trips or tours on their itinerary.
Members must possess all necessary equipment for their tours, especially safety gear, and be knowledgeable in its use.
First aid, outdoor survival skills, and orienteering/navigation skills training must be completed.
Customer service skills are expected to be of the highest level, and members are encouraged to seek additional training in this area, such as SuperHost.
Members must be 'Bear Aware" and must follow these guidelines at all times.
Members are expected to continue to upgrade their skills and knowledge, either through private courses, or courses offered through the tourism co-operative.
All members are subject to an annual Operations Audit, to ensure that they are meeting all of the guidelines set forth in this agreement.
4. Education and Information
By its very definition, eco-tourism is designed to educate and enlighten those individuals who undertake such activities. Therefore, all organised activities offered by co-op members must contain an educational component.
Members are expected to ensure that all guests fully understand the services, accommodations, tours, etc that will be offered to the, prior to their arrival.
It is also required that all guests will be informed of the behaviours, attitudes, and actions expected of them while they are participating in the services provided by the Tourism Co operative and its members.
5. Wilderness Ethics
Members are expected to lead through example, sharing with their guests the practice of responsible tourism.
Respect for wildlife, both flora and fauna, will be shown, encouraged and enforced.
Wild animals will not be approached unnecessarily, chased, harassed, or baited to allow for closer observation.
Care will be given to the trampling of flora and trail erosion. All participants on hikes or tours must stay on the trail provided, and refrain from picking plants, or removing any items from the natural environment.
Excess noise, such as radios, tape players, etc. will not be permitted in wilderness areas.
Smoking will not be permitted on trails, other than at designated break sites. Cigarette butts must be carried and placed in trash containers.
Future Challenges
The members of Mistahaya Wayatinaw are motivated to make their co-op a success not only because they desire satisfying self-employment, but also because they are determined to create an example of sustainability. They hope that their first season will be successful and demonstrate to community members that they are both serious business people and environmentalists.
bhautik.kawa
Bhautik Kawa
Re: HELP REQ................
Hey Pooja,
Here i am sharing Cooperative Tourism Development Project, please check attachment below
Hey Pooja,
Here i am sharing Cooperative Tourism Development Project, please check attachment below