The United States Tour Operators Association is entering the new millennium with a call to "preserve our global heritage" for future generations, as the organization officially introduces its Travelers Conservation Foundation.
The new, USTOA-sponsored foundation will identify cultural, historical and environmental sites in need of conservation, preservation or restoration throughout the world; provide funding through USTOA-member contributions; and seek philanthropic partnerships and/or matching grants in order to maximize results. In order to qualify for TCF consideration, all projects must be related to tourism.
According to Sven -Olof Lindblad, chairman of TCF, the projects cover the globe, and reflect destinations served by USTOA members. "We believe the time has come for the travel industry to be a major force in global preservation of nature, culture and history on which we so depend," says Lindblad, who spearheaded the drive to establish the foundation.
In officially introducing the fund, USTOA President Bob Whitley pointed out that, since its formation in March 1999, the foundation has raised $650,000 from USTOA members as well as from contributions by various foundations.
USTOA member companies can elect to identify their own projects with the assistance of TCF's Executive Director, Julie Goebel; or they can donate funds earmarked for any of seven initial projects selected for 2000. The projects are Ellis Island in the U.S.; the RARE Center for Tropical Conservation on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula; Peru's Cusco Historic Center; Cinque Terre in Italy; Petra, Jordan; the Champaner Archaeological site in India; and the Amboseli Research for Elephant Conservation in Kenya. Other potential projects in Hawaii and Australia are currently under consideration, reports Julie Goebel.
"This is our way of giving back to a world that has given us so much, and of helping to safeguard areas of historic and cultural significance for the future," says Whitley. "By contributing to the TCF, our member companies are demonstrating their leadership as corporate citizens. It's all about preserving the past for the future. As business people our members also recognize that it makes good sense to protect our fragile resources."
The first donation made through TCF was last spring when Tauck Tours contributed $250,000 to the Mesa Verde National Park Restoration Projects, to commemorate the company's 75th anniversary. Those funds -- to be used exclusively at Spruce Tree House, the most visited site in the park -- were doubled by the White House under the aegis of Save America's Treasures, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The TCF founding board is made up of Sven-Olof Lindblad, President, Lindblad Special Expeditions, and TCF Chairman; Charlie Ball, Vice President, Holland America-Westours; John Stachnik, President, Mayflower Tours; Arthur Tauck, Chairman of the Board, Tauck Tours, Inc., and Robert E. Whitley, President, USTOA. For more information on TCF contact Julie Goebel, Executive Director, Travelers Conservation Foundation, 2968 SW Champlain Dr., Portland, OR 97201; (503) 226-1271; fax (503) 226-2803; e-mail travellfund@aol.com. Information on USTOA is available through the association at 342 Madison Ave., Suite 1522, New York, NY 10173; (212) 599-6599; fax (212) 599-6744; or e-mail information@ustoa.com. For additional information and a listing of USTOA Active Members, visit www.ustoa.com.
Public Relations Contact:
Linda Kundell Communications
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(For all other inquiries about USTOA, please contact USTOA.)
