November Study Tour in Yunnan

[img_assist|nid=76|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=400|height=372]From November 19^th to 29^th 2010, the QNNP Pendeba Society organized a study tour for both local government officials and villagers to the Shangri-La area in Yunnan Province and other parts of inland China. This ten-day study tour aimed to expose concerned participants to and learn locally-based knowledge and best practices of ecological tourism development and management, and how to raise local income by way of participating and experiencing in eco-tourism activities. Led by the director of the Pendeba Society, Tesring Norbu, the tour was grouped by a total of nine participants from Tingri County Government and local village representatives who will be joining the upcoming Nature Guide Training Program in December.

During the tour, the participants had very productive and informative conversations with government officials from Shanri-La County and County Tourism Bureau as well as local villagers who have been actively involved in eco-tourism development and management activities. Escorted and guided by local government officials and villagers, the group had the chance to visit a number of different places and project sites that portray a vivid sustainable tourism picture in the region.

Key activities involved:

• Meeting with local counterpart officials from Shangri-La County, discussing issues about tourism development, the role of community and civil society organizations, and how it benefits local people and communities.

• Visiting Eastern Tibetan Training Institution (ETTI) and learning from their training modes. The Pendeba Society purchased 30 copies of textbook—Basic English for Tourism and Service Industry— from ETTI, which will be core learning materials for the three-month Nature Guide English Training Program set to star in December at the Pendeba Training Center. ETTI is also willing to accept 10 Pendeba students each semester and share teaching materials.

• Meeting with Shangri-La Sustainable Development Institution (SSDI), and learning from their experiences in environmental protection and cultural preservation through their projects on vocational trainings, water resource protection and promoting green facilities and agricultural products within the Institution. SSDI is happy to cooperate with the Pendeba Society in the area of training resources sharing, students exchange and other activities.

• Participating in a nature walk guided by an experienced local guide, Sonam Gelek, and a visit to local craft training workshops, as well as a tour in Lashi Hai escorted by Zhang Li, manager of a local eco-tourism company. The tour aims to demonstrate the role of a nature guide and how to run a tour in an ecologically friendly way. The Nature Guide Training Program is another program that demonstrates these activities and ultimately helps increase employment opportunities for trainees.

One of the participants mentioned: “We have learnt a lot from these experiences and examples, and will apply the knowledge in our communities." 

The Pendeba Society hopes and cordially expects the upcoming trainings to be as effective and fruitful as the study tour proved to be.