Communicating responsible actions and initiatives in tourism is important and Mallika Naguran of Gaia Discovery will share success stories at APeco2016 to be held from 21 to 23 October 2016 in Kuching, Sarawak.

Singapore, 15 October 2016. Gaia Discovery publisher Mallika Naguran will share her insights on how to tell a story that will resonate well with readers at the 9th Asia Pacific Ecotourism Conference (APeco 2016) on Saturday, 22 October 2016.

APeco is a premier conference organised by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) that brings together Asia Pacific leaders in tourism. This year’s theme is “Creating Opportunities in Ecotourism” with the objectives of boosting investment and trade in ecotourism products and services as well as promoting ecotourism standards in tourism industry (more below).

Regional media company Gaia Discovery has been reporting on eco-tourism news and development since its inception in 2008. Gaia Discovery focuses on the environment, society and sustainability with an emphasis on responsible tourism in Asia Pacific. Apart from writing features and reviews on eco-resorts and eco-tourism destinations, Gaia Discovery also profiles people in the sustainability movement.

MATTA invited Gaia Discovery to speak at APeco 2016 at the session titled: Meet the Media – Develop that Elevator Pitch. Naguran, a writer of fiction and non-fiction genres, looks forward to engaging with eco-tourism players at the conference.

Mallika Naguran on storytelling at MATTA APeco 2016“Storytelling is an art, not science. It can be worked into features, reports and even media releases. All it takes is a clear understanding of what moves people,” says Mallika Naguran, who is also the founder and director of Gaia Consult, a sustainability research and communications company.

MATTA’s APeco provides a good platform for tourism players to create awareness of environmental challenges in Asia Pacific, promote ecotourism standards in the tourism industry and present opportunities to educate and exchange ideas on ecotourism. 

Other speakers at MATTA’s APeco 2016 include Albert Teo, managing director of Borneo Eco Tours & Sukau Rainforest Lodge of Sabah; Josephine R. Cabarrus, head of Bohol Tourism Office, Provincial Government of Bohol, Philippines; Dr. Sean McNamara, program director for Nam Et Phou-Louey Landscape, Wildlife Conservation Society, Laos.

Mick Jerram will give tips on interpretive guiding at MATTA APeco 2016Speaker Mick Jerram, managing director of Gecko Canoeing & Trekking from the Northern Territory of Australia will address two sessions: Ecotourism and the Development of Indigenous Community and Nature Guides and Ecotourism. He won the 2004 NT Tourism Award for ‘Outstanding Interpretive Guide’.

Participate and listen to experts from the Asia Pacific region in specified topics from Community to Success Stories in Ecotourism. APeco will be held from 21 to 23 October 2016 at Riverside Majestic Hotel, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

More about APeco 2016

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) event APeco 2016

is themed “Creating Opportunities in Ecotourism” with the following objectives:

• To promote ecotourism standards in tourism industry
• To develop ecotourism as a tourism investment
• To create positive change and sustainability in the ecotourism sector
• To build conservation awareness of ecotourism
• To investigate the potential of ecotourism for improving livelihoods of local communities

The Economic Trade

• Acquiring the potential investors of ecotourism business
• Exchanging ideas and information to improving local eco-products
• Exploring eco-tourism potential products and destinations
• Generating potential income for local product owners
• Building the marketing opportunity for eco-tourism products and destinations

 

MATTA APeco 2016 Programme

21 OCTOBER 2016 (Friday)

Day 01. Highlights

 

SESSION 1

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Ecotourism and the Development of Indigenous Communities.

 

SESSION 2

CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND ECOTOURISM

Encouraging Conservation or Adding to Exploitation?

 

SESSION 3

ECOTOURISM AND INNOVATION.

Tourism and Culture in the Age of Innovation

 

22 OCTOBER 2016 (Saturday)

Day 02. Highlights

 

SESSION 4

ECOTOURISM AS MARKET SEGMENT 
Marketing Your Ecotourism Business

 

SESSION 5

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ECOTOURISM 
To Be or Not to Be ‘IT’

 

SESSION 6

MEET THE MEDIA 
Develop that ‘Elevator Pitch’!

 

SESSION 7

SUCCESS STORIES 
The Components of Successful Ecotourism

 

SESSION 8

NATURE GUIDES AND ECOTOURISM 
Viewing Nature: The Role of the Nature Guide and the Advantages of Participating in Ecotourism 

 

23 OCTOBER 2016 (Sunday)

Day 03. Highlights

Tour to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre Tour, Kuching, Sarawak