Nature positive Tourism & Travel
An Introduction and Case Studies from Europe.
Together, MOYO Training Foundation and Natural Greece will give you an introduction to Nature Positive Tourism and Travel, and underline this with real-life examples and case studies from Europe, especially Greece.
You will receive a broad introduction to nature-positive tourism with an explanation of the tourism industry, wildlife conservation trends including rewilding, community engagement, and how the travel industry can give back to nature.
A range of different examples from Europe will allow you to dive deeper into what Nature Positive Travel looks like in Europe, and how you can contribute yourself. Case studies from Greece include:
- Sea Turtle Conservation School Holidays – educational and participatory experiences for school groups while facilitating learning about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Mediterranean Monk Seal Expeditions – observation & conservation of one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals, the Mediterranean monk seal.
- Brown Bear Tracking Tours – An immersive wildlife experience, tracking brown bears in their natural habitat, fostering awareness and support for bear conservation.
These initiatives represent a fraction of what Nature Positive Tourism and Travel encompasses, illustrating the vast potential and positive impact such practices can have on both the environment and local communities. This introduction and the accompanying case studies are designed to inspire, educate, and encourage a deeper understanding and commitment to sustainable tourism practices.
Speakers
-
Aukje van GervenGrowing up, Aukje enjoyed nature mostly from horseback, which instilled a love for wandering in wild spaces. She holds degrees in Law and History, but when working in these fields ceased to inspire her, she discovered true adventure travel while cycling from Tanzania to the Netherlands. When she finished her biking expedition, Aukje entered the workforce again as the Director of the Respect the Mountains Foundation, bringing the message of ecotourism and live events to the European Sustainable Mountain Tourism market. In 2018 Aukje started working for Rewilding Europe. She managed the in-house travel company (the European Safari Company) and was in charge of Wildlife Tourism development & training in the different rewilding areas. She co-created the rewilding tourism training program which trained over 200 participants & tourism professionals. The impact this program had on participants, partners, and herself, has motivated Aukje to start MOYO Training Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports wildlife and biodiversity across the globe by delivering nature-positive training programmes
-
Chantel Kyriakopoulou- BeuvinkChantel was born and raised in The Netherlands, where Wildflowers were her first passion in life. She always traveled a lot and this wanderlust instilled in her an innate love for the natural world. Chantel holds degrees in Marketing and Environmental Economics and consequently had a career in environmental and project management back in the Low Countries. Her second career began in Greece in 2006, where she worked for Birdlife Greece and WWF Hellas. Her experience in nature conservation, fundraising, and the travel industry combined with CSR helped her to start up Eco & Wildlife Tour Operator Natural Greece in 2013. Its multi-awarded team of passionate tourism professionals and tour guides is delighting travellers and tour operator clients worldwide. Natural Greece is partnering with leading nature organizations in Greece, and its transformational tours directly benefit wildlife and local communities.
-
Argyro Anisa DhimarkoShe is a professional specializing in environmental sustainability and management. Her academic credentials include an MSc in Bioeconomy, Circular Economy & Sustainable Development and a BA in International and European Studies, both from the University of Piraeus. Her career spans a variety of roles that include sustainability research reporting and participation in sustainability projects. In addition to her sustainability expertise, she has significant experience in customer-oriented roles, booking management and content creation for various platforms.
