Signs

The agreement was signed at the event booth of the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism attended by the president of Fundtur (Foundation of Tourism of Mato Grosso do Sul) Nelson Cintra, Deputy Mayor Josmail Rodrigues, Tourism Secretary Juliane Salvadori and representatives from Embratur, ABETA and ATTA.

Besides the municipality, Bonito’s Convention and Visitors Bureau also signed an agreement with the ATTA, becoming the first Brazilian CVB to participate in the Adventure Trade Association as an Association Partner.

Visitor education

Bonito is quite small town with only 17.000 inhabitants. The town is situated in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, approximately 300km from the airport in Campo Grande City, between 250km & 350km from accommodations in the south part of Pantanal, about 1.170 from Sao Paulo City and 1.600km from Rio de Janeiro.

Apart from the Pantanal, the small town of Bonito is one of the major tourist destinations in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The town itself has no attractions, but the natural resources of the area are impressive. Beautiful rainforest area with hundreds of waterfalls, lakes and rivers of crystal clear blue water, over 80 dry and flooded caves, and endless species of fish and other wild animals, are some of the attractions in the region of Bonito.

Community involvement

Community involvement global sustainable tourism council held its annual general meeting at Bonito and sustainability is not a niche. Sustainability is not a segment, Sustainability is the future of our industry, expressed DR. Kelly Bricker, GSTC board chair said. Community representatives shared their insights about tourisms planning, economic development, community involvement heritage protections and environment conservation.

Benefits to locals
The local government and community realizes the importance of this unique ecosystem and works through a pioneering system of vouchers to conduct the local tourism business. Thus, there is a well established aligning of interests that ensures that local communities, businesses, and visitors all benefit from the continued ethical approach to the local biomes.
1 Each of the 38 accredited attractions in Bonito can only be booked by purchasing vouchers.
2 These vouchers can only be bought at accredited travel agents.
3 The price of each activity is regulated through the voucher. Prices are non-negotiable, and are the same irrespective of the location where they are purchased from.
This system has multiple safeguards, and sets up an effective scheme of checks and balances which places sustainability front and centre. 1. An attraction is granted accreditation to issue vouchers only after going through a systematic process that determines environmental impact and carrying capacity. 2. Every certified activity must be undertaken with a certified, rigorously trained guide who helps visitors interpret the region through its unique ecological lens. 3. The vouchers generate income that is used for preservation of the regions ecosystem. 4. The policy also provides for the operation of small, locally owned tourism businesses to ensure that local employment is accorded a high priority.
These are the kinds of cutting edge sustainability initiatives that need to adapted and replicated the world over to make the sustainable travel movement a truly global one. These initiatives show that it is possible to have a conservation led approach that benefits all stakeholders. Putting “nature first” can and does lead to fairness for all.