The increased desire for an ethical holiday, to give something back as well as to experience the real culture of the countries we visit has led to a burgeoning market for volunteer tourism. A 2008 study by Tourism and Research Marketing, which surveyed 300 organisations, estimated the market size to be 1.6 million volunteer tourists per year and put the value of the market at around £1.3 billion.

Often called “voluntourism”, this amalgamation of volunteering and travel has created a significant amount of debate but continues to grow unabated. The main issues arising from this sector include whether there is a need for the volunteer and the legitimacy of the projects they do; whether the volunteer brings the necessary skills to the project; whether they are displacing paid workers; are they a drain on local resources; the cost of the project and where the money goes; whether volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults should have background checks; how well prepared and briefed are volunteers for this kind of experience and the cultural sensitivities of volunteering in developing countries.

There are many stories of volunteers arriving at projects only to find there is little for them to do, no logistical support on the ground or they are unprepared or unskilled for the experience. The growth of the market and positioning within the mainstream travel sector will continue to raise and address these kind of issues. This could ultimately lead to a better experience for volunteers and increased benefit to the local communities they visit, with movement towards regulation of the industry.

The sheer choice of volunteering projects now available can also make it difficult to identify the right volunteer experience. A search on the responsibletravel.com website for “volunteer travel” brings up 377 results, including conservation projects, teaching and working with children and community based projects in developing countries.

There is some good advice available, for example the ethical volunteering guide by Dr Kate Simpson, which advises volunteers on choosing the right organisation, considering their own motivations for volunteering and what questions to ask. The Irish development organisation Comhlmh has developed a Volunteer Charter setting out seven principles for responsible volunteering and a website, Volunteering Options, to advise prospective volunteers on choosing a placement.

The best way to identify worthwhile projects is to do some research into the organisation. The first question to ask is for a breakdown of the cost of the project and how much goes to the host community. An organisation should be able to easily provide this information. The next thing to check is how the project was developed and understand why there is a need for a volunteer, the skills required and what volunteers will be doing. Another key thing to check is what level of preparation and support are offered by the organisation, both before and during the project. Speaking to a previous volunteer or searching for reviews online can help to separate the good from the bad.

There are at least 100 UK-based organisations operating volunteering projects overseas, some of which are not-for-profits or NGOs and others commercial profit-making companies. These include companies like i-to-i, Inspired Breaks (formerly Gap Year for Grown Ups) and Real Gap Experience, all part of the TUI group. They offer a mixture of volunteering projects, work abroad and adventure tours, primarily aimed at the gap year and career break market, however they also have two week holiday options. Their volunteer projects include conservation work, teaching, caring for children and volunteering in orphanages, sports coaching, building projects and medical volunteering. Inspired Breaks also offer family volunteering holidays, for example a trip to Swaziland to help care for vulnerable and orphaned children. The Adventure Company are also offering family “Hands On Adventures” which include wildlife conservation and community projects.

The acquisition of these companies by TUI demonstrates the multi-million pound value of the volunteering and gap year market. One of the main criticisms of volunteering projects offered by commercial organisations is that the company’s main interest is in profit rather than development. Projects are developed based on what the customer wants to do, what is marketable, rather than the needs of local communities. Some companies will send volunteers to do the same project repeatedly, with little benefit to the host community. The other concerns about the commercial organisations are that they don’t match volunteers to suitable placements or interview prospective volunteers to assess their suitability for projects and they offer minimal preparation or training.

Two organisations which stand out for their responsible credentials are Global Vision International (GVI) and people and places. GVI won the 2011 Responsible Tourism Award for best volunteering organisation and were praised for the scale of their impact on the ground. They operate long term, sustainable projects in 25 countries focusing on environmental research, conservation, education and community development. Projects are developed for the benefit of both the volunteer and local communities.

people and places, who also won the best volunteering organisation award in 2009, emphasise their commitment to both volunteers and communities and matching the right volunteer to the right placement. Their organisation was conceived out of concern over the “chasm between marketing and reality in a significant number of volunteer offers”. They work with local partners and develop volunteer placements based on their needs. This is very much the model used by international development volunteering organisations like VSO and 2Way Development. They provide detail about the project and local partner and are transparent about how the volunteer’s payment is spent. They are now working with companies like Tribes and ITC Classics to provide their volunteering trips.

What is particularly interesting is that people and places emphasise on their website that these kind of volunteering projects are not holidays – “Volunteering responsibly cannot and should not replace the traditional holiday. It will be emotionally exhausting and mentally challenging”.

So is the volunteer travel market growing? The number of organisations and projects available would indicate that it is. Despite the recession, there seems to be a demand for this sort of travel. The current job market and wave of redundancies could be seen as an opportunity to take time out and travel or volunteer, gain new skills and experience to add to CVs. The high cost of many of the projects could be the main barrier for growth in this market, only affordable to the more affluent. But with the rise of the career breaker and the growing conscience of mainstream tourism, perhaps 2012 really is the year of the volunteer tourist?

Sustainable Tourism Report Suite more info : HERE

This article is written by Natasha Stein, natashakstein@gmail.com has worked for VSO, Earthwatch and Thomson Holidays and specialises in best practice in overseas volunteering programmes and identifying the right placements for volunteers. Natasha developed an interest in responsible tourism whilst working at Thomson Holidays as a Product Manager for long-haul destinations. After 6 years with VSO’s volunteering team, she decided to combine her experience in tour operations and international development and pursue a career in responsible travel. She is currently studying for a Masters in Responsible Tourism Management at the International Centre for Responsible Tourism.
The article is quoted from TravelMole and published January 2012.

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Nominations can be submitted until December 31, 2011. Follow this link to fill the form and suggest the city that should be one of the New7Wonders Cities.

The nominations will be announced on January 7, 2012 and these participants will then be put to popular vote to choose the New7Wonders Cities.

This article is quoted from New7Wonders , read the original article here posted on the 13th of November 2011.

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Article by Eamonn Fitzgerald on November 11, 2011

The first count of the global vote to elect the New7Wonders of Nature has been announced. In alphabetical order, they are: Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, Puerto Princesa Underground River and Table Mountain.

Announcing the results at the headquarters of the New7Wonders Foundation in Zurich, Switzerland, Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders, said: “I would like to thank the many champions, citizens, voluntary organisations, public bodies and governments that have helped promote the New7Wonders of Nature campaign over the past four years, starting with over 440 locations from over 220 countries and all the way to the 28 Finalist candidates from whom the New7Wonders of Nature have been chosen.”

The results announced this evening are provisional and based on the first count of votes completed since voting ended at 11:11 GMT this morning. The results will now be checked, validated and independently verified. Once the voting validation process is completed, in early 2012, New7Wonders will then work with the confirmed winners to organise the Official Inauguration events.

Note: It may happen that one or more of the provisional winners announced today will not be confirmed during the validation process, New7Wonders will issue a media update should this happen.

“We congratulate each of these participants on achieving their provisional New7Wonders of Nature status, and look forward to completing the confirmation process to celebrate each one in their own Official Inauguration ceremony early in 2012,” said Bernard Weber, adding, “When the New7Wonders of Nature are confirmed they will join the man-made New 7 Wonders of the World in becoming part of Global Memory for humankind for ever.”

Read more about the New 7 wonders of nature ,

This article is quoted from New7Wonders , read the original article here posted on the 11th of November 2011.

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Global sustainability spending will soar 50 percent to 100 percent between 2011 and 2013, predicted research firm Verdantix. Firms in the U.S., U.K., Australia and Canada with $1 billion-plus revenue will dole out roughly $60 billion in 2013 on workers, equipment or implementation of strategies directly related to sustainability, climate change, carbon management or energy efficiency.

“Spending on sustainable business initiatives such as energy efficiency, sustainability assurance and clean tech innovation is positively correlated with global economic growth,” David Metcalfe, Verdantix director and a regular contributor to GreenBiz.com, said in a statement Thursday. “By 2013 a powerful mix of market drivers, led by the forecasted global economic rebound, will significantly increase strategic investment in sustainability programs. The arrival of the 2013 tipping point will be good news for cash-strapped clean tech innovators and struggling sustainability entrepreneurs.”
Verdantix will details its findings in a webinar on June 2.

Verdantix based its predictions on four years of research into the spending habits of more than 2,500 worldwide companies. The analysis revealed three key trends.
First, the rise of the chief sustainability officer is helping to scale corporate sustainability programs and promote the virtues of sustainability externally to professional associations and the like.
Meanwhile, the concept of sustainability is increasingly seen as a need-to-have by corporate boards and CEOs, rather than a nice-to-have. Sustainability carries with it a range of quantifiable, bottom-line benefits that enhance competitiveness, such as resource efficiency.
By 2013, Verdantix predicts, trends we’re seeing now, such as growing demand in Asia, tougher energy and climate change policies, and evidence on how sustainability provide business value, will have solidified, deepening the business case for investment.

This article is quoted from GreenBiz , read the original article here written by Tilde Herrera and published May 20, 2011.

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The various inconveniences range from walking long distances, waiting for rickshaws and standing the entire way on the bus; and on top of all that, the everyday nuisance of being stared at and commented on can be quite a painful ordeal.
In an attempt to overcome this obstacle for the female population of the country Rudmila Rahman came up with the idea of using bicycles as an alternative.

Whether for recreational purposes or for mobility, in our country, a woman riding a bicycle is looked at with disapproval. “Being a Bangladeshi woman, I’ve faced significant barriers from family, neighbours and society in getting on a bike riding around town. Our freedom of mobility is seriously curtailed in Dhaka if women don’t feel safe to travel independently in their own city” says Rudmila. and goes on to say “In rural areas, only those women who are affiliated with an NGO or an organisation, wearing their emblem, are not seen with disapproval while riding bicycles, while girls have to travel miles on foot to get to school or take their exams”. The only women who are seen cycling around Dhaka are usually expatriates. She believes that owning and riding a bicycle sends out a strong message of independence within a conservative society as well as making transportation easy for both rural and urban women. To add to all that, cycling is an environmentally friendly alternative to cars, CNGs and buses in cities.
With the aim of starting an organisation that promotes the use of cycling as an alternate method of transportation for women and breaking the stigma attached to a girl on a cycle, Rudmila used social media tools to reach out to numerous women in Dhaka. On receiving appreciable response, the first cycling initiative for women in Dhaka ‘Arohi: Pedaling the path to empowerment’, a non-profit organisation, was founded.

With the vision of establishing freedom of mobility for women in Bangladesh, Rudmila came up with the idea of arranging a bicycle ride exclusively for women on the 25 February, 2011 among several other future efforts. The objective of this ride was to sensitise the population of Dhaka to female cyclers.
“When people will see a large number of women cycling together it will have a greater impact on their acceptance” says Rudmila.

On the morning of Friday, 25 February a group of around thirty women all wearing white t-shirts were seen waiting in front of Drik Gallery, the starting point of Arohi’s first bicycle ride. Enthusiasm for doing something for the betterment of the women in the society seemed pretty high.

“The barriers in this country in terms of mobility for women are quite a lot. This initiative is certainly a step forward to overcoming them” says Alayne Adams, an expatriate participating in the ride.
The ride was a 5 km long ride from Dhanmondi to Shahid Minar at Dhaka University and did grab the attention of passers-by. Dhaka University was chosen as a route in order to encourage female students and to get people used to them cycling in the campus.
The organisation will be arranging more awareness events in order to motivate the target segments of students, garments workers, NGO workers etc. Arohi’s long term goal is to develop a business model that will further encourage women to opt for cycling by providing bicycles on rent.

Arohi also plans to host a bicycle training workshop on the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March to help interested women in learning how to move through the streets of Dhaka on a cycle.
So if you want to join in the endeavour of empowering women, grab a bike and get on the streets of Dhaka. Happy riding!

By Karishma Ameen
Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed

The article was first published in The Daily Star, Bangladesh, the original article published on 2011.03.09.

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The first day when we reached Lava in the evening, where we were briefed by the Divisional Manager of Kalimpong Forest Division, Mr Ujjal Ghosh that one cycle rally is to start next day to promote Ecotourism in this hilly tracts of North Bengal. The first thing which hit me was till last year we have been doing story on how unrest in North Bengal has jeopardized tourism movement in these parts then how come this movements are on. More so I came to know that that all total 42 participants from North Bengal including some from Bhutan will participate in this rally and this is how orange festival will start here.

Next day morning what I deciphered that this entire rally was conducted by Help Tourism with support from Forest Development Corporation, but what was interesting was the people’s participation here. We sitting in the plains have a perception that people here only wants separate state. On the other hand I came to know that these cycles will be used by the tourists in this region. While our car was going down to Samsing ,(a forest village located in Bhutan border) the beautiful view that accompanied me ,compelled me to think that why only negative aspects are shown by us, this is not the North Bengal known to me, this is a beautiful place which needs to get more attention positively. As all this was going in my mind we reached Samsing, at first sight I fell in love with this place, an entire green valley in the lap of hills. As I was fully involved in my interaction with this place I realised that this is that pocket of North Bengal which has been known for militant activity via Bhutan border. We checked in the house of one of the Lepcha community leaders, and we were received with great warmth here. I was wondering how such festival could take place here?

Next day was orange festival and when all this things were on in my mind I saw how this entire village was getting decked up for this festival. More so this entire festival was coordinated by these villagers, it was this moment when I again thought that is this my new introduction to North Bengal. Amidst all this separatist movement people here have gone beyond all the political agenda, they have taken their community baton of development in their own hand. Next day morning was a new day for this Mondalgaon village in Samsing as people for the first time were getting ready to welcome orange festival. I came to know that a major portion of orange that we enjoy as Darjeeling Orange goes from this region, so I was excited to experience this new day, as we entered the mela ground I met Geetha Rai , who came from Tinkathari village near Bhutan . Geetha was very happy as this was the first time that she has got the right to sell oranges of her own tree in her own hand , she was blasting with happiness sharing all her feelings how this festival has change her life. Her husband HARI RAI made her a bag with a fabric of orange tree in it, where they planned to keep their earnings. Her smile is the most precious memoir which I have collected from this place. I also interacted with XERONA, 27 Years old young girl, of this place working in Darjeeling, she told me how this festivals idea has united different communities of this place and the conflict that people perceive between different communities have also withered away. She was telling me about her childhood days, where this Tinkathari village from where my orange seller Geetha Rai has come was known for militancy and how now things have changed. My entire day passed by watching different communities dance, from Maruni dance to Rava dance , from Bihu of Assam to Swaruti dance of Darjeeling. I cannot express it in my words that how mesmerising was this experience. Maintaining their identity how in their own effort they are taking forward their culture.

It was early morning as the sun was waking up , I was leaving Samsing I felt that yes , now when i go back , I will be able to project North Bengal in a better way, because this is a new sunrise for this place and for my perception. Thanks to Ajay da, Raj ( Help Tourism) Shekhar Das (Film Director) who have introduced my North Bengal to me. My salute to people of North Bengal, who are putting tremendous effort in changing the scenario.

Article writer Kamalika Sengupta.
Email:kamalikasengupta90@gmail.com

This article is quoted from The Orange Festival blog and provided by Raj Basu , Secretary General, Indo-Bhutan Friendship Association, Siliguri, and founder of Help Tourism .

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1.Bangladesh
This subcontinental treat might just be the cheapest place on earth to travel. Bangladesh offers marvellous meals for under US$1, a mid-range hotel room for less than 10 times that. This means that anyone who isn’t a masochist goes up a price bracket or two. You’ll pay a little more to get around the Sunderbans National Park on a tiger-spotting tour – US$150 or thereabouts – but it’s still peanuts, even compared to what you pay next door in India.
Bangladesh is almost disgracefully under-visited. Here, paddleboat is one of the main forms of transport and you can trek, canoe and even surf to your heart’s content with some of the world’s friendliest people for company. The Rocket is Bangladesh’s most famous ferry, running daily between the capital Dhaka and Khulna. First-class river cruising for 27 hours will cost US$15.

2. Nicaragua
As other Central American destinations inflate prices with an influx of travellers, there are still a few good value delights to be found in the region. Nicaragua is somewhere where the careful traveller can get by spending US$15 a day, and midrange comforts can be had for less than double that amount. What you get for your money is nothing short of spectacular: hammock-hanging opportunities on the mythically unspoilt Corn Islands, bar-hopping and live music in colonial León and Granada, and volcano trekking on the Isla de Ometepe. Paying departure tax when flying out of Nicaragua may be the single most expensive thing you do at US$32, and this is usually already included in the price of your ticket.

3. Washington, DC
Lincoln Memorial: free. National Air and Space Museum: free. Capitol: free. Library of Congress: free. White House and State Department: tough to get in, but free. Get the picture? Washington is a city packed with iconic things to do and very few of them ask for an entry fee. If you’re happy to walk and bring your own lunch bag, you can absorb centuries of American history, politics and culture without having to so much as touch a dollar bill all day. DC’s Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens is the only national park in the USA devoted to water plants. It’s free.

4. Paris
The French capital is never going to win any awards for cheapness, but here’s a winning formula that anyone can afford. First, you need a Swiss Army knife. Then stroll into a boulangerie – every neighbourhood has several – and buy a freshly baked baguette for €1 (US$1.35) or thereabouts. Follow your nose to your next stop, a fromagerie, and grab a fist-sized hunk of cheese. Lastly, grab a bottle of wine, nothing fancy, and head for the banks of the Seine opposite Notre Dame or the garden adjacent to Pont Neuf on a sunny day, preferably with a friend or loved one. Zut alors – a Parisian dining experience for under €10 (US$13.50) per person that any local would declare formidable! You’ll find everything for a picnic on Rue Montorgueil in the 2nd arrondisement.

5. Namibia
Botswana wants big spenders only and South Africa’s not the deal it once was, so southern Africa bargain hunters should head for Namibia. Well set-up for backpackers, this is still a territory of US$50 or less a day if you’re careful, with an excellent network of local minibuses and tours aimed at budget travellers to go to places public transport won’t. And if you go up a price bracket you’ll eat and sleep well in excellent-value midrange options that bring South Africans flocking over the border year after year. Admission to the Cape Cross Seal Reserve on the Skeleton Coast costs a mere US$3 per person.

6. Philippines
The Philippines may be just about to rudely shove Thailand off the ‘best cheap beaches’ perch it’s occupied for the best part of two decades. While travellers argue long and hard about which is cheaper, there’s no denying Thailand is more popular. For those who desire nothing more than to find great, undiscovered beaches, surf the odd wave and eat unique, distinctive food for under US$20 a day, the Philippines has the edge. Add in the possibility of beach camping along the Zambales Coast or in the Bacuit Archipelago and you’ve got the recipe for timeless island hopping that suits any budget. Ferries link many idyllic destinations in the Philippines. Expect to pay around US$5 for each hour you’re on the water.

7. Argentina
The Argentine peso is the currency that keeps on giving. In the middle of the last decade, incredulous visitors regularly queried bills for being too cheap after feasting on fine steak and red wine. While not quite the bargain it was during those years, Argentina still offers a terrific deal. Characterful mid-range hotels start at around AR$180 (US$46) per night in Buenos Aires and Patagonia, and half that in other places. Argentina’s gourmet eating houses usually won’t charge more than US$30 a head and you can enjoy wonderful meals on much less. Best of all, you get great quality food, wine, lodging and transport throughout Argentina for your money.
Bounce up and down with some of Buenos Aires’ more raucous citizens at a fútbol (soccer) match. Terrace tickets for Boca Juniors, River Plate and others cost from AR$14 (US$3.60).

8. Naples
Italy: not cheap. Even a slice of pizza can seem like lousy value if you’ve come from a part of the world that uses a currency that’s slumped against the euro. Thank heavens then for Naples. Here’s one Italian city that prefers food that’s fresh, simple and good value. You can dine brilliantly on the city’s spectacular street food alone. Naples eschews budget-blasting frills in favour of small and simple B&Bs charging around €75 (US$100) per night. Best of all, Naples is a city full of life being lived for its own sake, with few of the tourist hordes who descend on other Italian classics further north.
The ferry from Naples to the idyllic island of Capri, one of Italy’s classic journeys, costs a mere €10.50 (US$14) with Caremar.

9. Ukraine
Eastern Europe isn’t the US50c-a-beer haven for bargain hunters it once was, but good deals are still available. OK,
mid-range hotels can be pricey, especially in the capital, Kyiv, but good budget options in Lviv and Odesa are available for less than US$50. Once on the ground you’ll find your funds go a long way. Public transport is fantastic value, with a train between Kyiv and the lovely city of Lviv costing less than US$10, and a tram ride from the station into town a hundredth of that. If you know where to look, food, beer and coffee can be really very cheap.
One of Ukraine’s top sights is the immense and moving Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv; it includes the final resting place of national poet Ivan Franko and thousands of dramatic tombstones. You get hours of fascinating wandering for less than US$1.

10. Syria
While some neighbouring countries up the entry costs to ancient sites, Syria remains an excellent-value place to travel. As you might expect, there are superb street shwarma (sandwiches), felafel and eye-tightening qahwa (coffee) available for small change. A ride between Aleppo and Damascus won’t touch US$5, and a daily budget of US$50 will get you well into the mid-range bracket. Best of all, the delights of the Old City of Damascus and the souq at Aleppo are free. If you get locked into a tussle with a carpet merchant in the latter, though, you’re on your own.
The Crusader Castle of Crac des Chevaliers, one of the world’s great castles, charges around US$3.50 entry.

This article is quoted from Lonely Planet . Follow this link to read the original article , which was published on the 12th November 2010.

Do you want to read more about the Lonely Planet nomination and Bangladesh, then follow the links below:

Lonely Planet Reveals Its Best Destinations, Journeys & Experiences for 2011

Lonely Planet description of Bangladesh

Bangladesh tops Lonely Planet’s Best-Value Destinations 2011 in UNB Connect, Bangladesh

Lonely Planet Ranking Bangladesh ‘Best Value Destination’ in Daily Star, Bangladesh

This article is uploaded by Majbritt Thomsen, administrator on ‘Views On Tourism’. Please join the online Views On Tourism network and discussion group in order to achieve personal goals as well as encourage a sustainable tourism development in Bangladesh and South Asia. Read more about this group and how to become a member here.

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A Bangladeshi himself, he’s spent many weeks touring the country. Bangladesh, he says, offers wonderful hospitality, beautiful scenery and the quiet roads for cyclists. It is also an overcrowded country, so you’ll have plenty of chances to meet local people, and one that is largely untouched by tourism.
In addition to the 10 Questions answered here, you can also see Muntasir’s wonderful photos of bike touring in Bangladesh and visit his website, Kewkradong .

1. What is the best way for people to reach Bangladesh?
Bangladesh is very well connected with India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan by road. All the routes will be over India for at least a small distance. With India, Bangladesh has long borders and a number of custom offices on the border so it’s never tough to get an entry to Bangladesh after you have done a ride in India.
There is a very famous route from Karachi (PK) to Chittagong (BD) which was actually a rail route established by the British Raj before the division of India and Pakistan, mostly known as the Imperial Way from the book by Steve Mccurry and Paul Theroux.

2. Tell us about some of the general considerations for cycling in Bangladesh.
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh, with nearly 18 million people in 350 square kilometers. It’s unimaginably crowded! But not every part of Bangladesh is as crowed as Dhaka. So, don’t get panicked after landing in Dhaka. Get a taxi to your hotel.
In Dhaka, it’s better to move on while it’s morning, more specifically before 8 am. After that it will make a huge difference of time, when 5 minutes means a lot even on a bike. If you’re not in Dhaka or the other big towns, life is fun!! So, for riding, the better option is to stay as long as possible in outside of Dhaka.
Foods are easily accessible like India. But it’s not advisable to have street food all the time. Small restaurants or mostly crowed shops are even safer for food. And in Dhaka, don’t even try to drink water on the street.

3. How does cycling in Bangladesh compare to its neighbours Nepal and India?
Indeed, riding in Bangladesh is not like in Nepal or India or elsewhere. The people are still very curious and helpful. It’s very likely you can get offers from people to stay at their place or to have meal. Exploring villages and the people that live there could be exciting. You can always try to be hosted by the locals. In that case, buy some food for all of them.

Bangladesh is a very small country but if you want, you can spend lots of time here. The most beautiful parts Bangladesh can offer are its villages and small and narrow feeder dirt roads. Its has nearly 80,000 villages so you can always get to the next one if you want get something better.
Bangladesh is unique in its hospitality and overcrowdedness. So before visiting here, keep that in mind. It’s also not India or Nepal, where bike touring is common. And when you are riding, it means you are poor to the locals!!! Because only poor people ride bikes in Bangladesh.

4. Bangladesh can have a lot of problems with flooding and other extreme weather. Are there certain times of the year that are best to visit?
There are a few misleading concepts about Bangladesh in terms of weather, poverty and other things. It’s true, once in every two years small parts of the land of the country go underwater for between a few weeks and several months but it’s not periodic like a clock! Geographically, Bangladesh is a sub-tropical country with a mild winter from late October to late January. Winter (average temperature 16-26°C) is the best time to travel in Bangladesh. There is much less chance of rain during this time.

If you can ride in summer then it would be great to go across Bangladesh in the summer. You will see the traditional look of Bengal: cultivation, organic farming and fruits in most of Bangladesh. It will be hot (36-38°C). You will sweat and never be dry as it is too humid (around 70%-90%).

5. Are the roads in good condition? Are they mostly paved or should cyclists expect to be on dirt roads?
Most of the roads of Bangladesh are paved but it’s not as smooth as silk. Mainly the highways or major roads are paved and connected to other bigger and smaller roads. One very interesting thing about road system of Bangladesh is that every road is connected to every other road, so if you miss one turn to get somewhere, you will always find another road to reach the same place.

Dirt roads are not uncommon but they are not used for any vehicle except rickshaws and some other three wheelers.
In general, most of the villages are connected through dirt road and divisional or district connecting roads are paved. One problem is that roads are often not clean and loose bricks or stones can frequently be found.

6. What about food and water? What kind of food can cyclists expect to find, and is bottled water readily available?
If it’s any major city then you can try different foods available in shops, restaurants and in the street. But in rural or suburban areas you have to rely on what is available in shops. It’s easy to get biscuits as snacks or rice, dahl, fish and meat for a full-course meal. There is no concept called “vegetarian” so don’t expect something if you tell restaurants that is what you are looking for. The easiest way to get only vegetables is to order only rice, parata (a handmade bread fried with oil), naan bread, vegetables or dal.
Water outside of Dhaka and the big regional towns is fairly clean and safe. Especially in the villages, where they drink well water. Bottled water and beverages are also available all most every corner of Bangladesh.

7. Can you recommend your favourite route for cycling in Bangladesh and what makes it so special?
In one word Sylhet (the northeastern part of Bangladesh) is the best for a few days ride. It is commonly known as Little Darjeeling, without the steep climbs. It’s green and tea gardens are almost everywhere on your route. The roads are well paved. This trip can start from Dhaka to Sylhet following some small towns in between.
But if you wish to have something more, then going from Dhaka to the north, across the country, will give you real exposure to Bangladesh. No formal accommodation or hotels are available but the experience will be unforgettable. This nearly 600km route follows the border of Bangladesh and India will give you a different landscape of Bangladesh, crossing around 200 kilometers of mud or unpaved roads!

8. What are some typical costs for things like hotel rooms and simple street meals ($1 U.S. = 70 Taka)?
Hotel in Dhaka or some other major cities may cost you from 200–5000 Tk. But in most of the places of Bangladesh you can always get an accommodation within 200-500 Tk or even very less like 100 Tk.
Food is cheap too, for a major meal outside Dhaka ranges from 30–150 Tk (depending on your demand). Beef or fish will cost you 40–70 Tk in street side restaurant where an egg might cost you 10-15 Tk or even less. There are so many other foods available on the street costing 3–20 Tk and some time you have to buy them priced by the kilogram.

9. Is language a problem or do most people speak English?
People may not speak fluent English but still you can work with them for basic necessities even in the very rural areas.

10. What is one typical Bangladeshi experience that you think cyclists shouldn’t miss?
The richness of the hospitality of local people. Mix with people. Talk to them. Take photos with them. Use some local words. They will like you and you will even get offers to stay at their homes, in most of the rural places where you stop to eat.
If you don’t get any place to stay, go to any shops or restaurant around and they will help you. I have never heard of anyone who was refused.
And if you are a woman, you will have VIP access to almost everywhere. Just make sure you maintain local decorum and dress modestly.

Thanks to Muntasir Mamun Imram for answering this week’s 10 Questions on bike touring in Bangladesh. All photos are by Muntasir Mamun Imran and kewkradong.com

This article is quoted from Travelling Two – Bike Touring Inspiration. Follow the link to read the original article. This blog article is uploaded by Majbritt Thomsen, administrator on ‘Views On Tourism’.

Please join the online Views On Tourism network and discussion group in order to achieve personal goals as well as encourage a sustainable tourism development in Bangladesh and South Asia. Read more about this group and how to become a member here.

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Download the report here .

This article is quoted from Tourism ROY Newsletter published on 2010-04-27. Follow the green link to read the original article .

Please join the online Views On Tourism network and discussion group in order to achieve personal goals as well as encourage a sustainable tourism development in Bangladesh. Read more about this group and how to become a member here.

This article is uploaded by Majbritt Thomsen, administrator on ‘Views On Tourism’.

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Expats in Bangladesh travel a lot in generally. The destinations are mainly national, regional and their home country. But the number of national trips pr. expat varies a lot – some expats have never left the up-quarters of Dhaka while others travel frequently to different destinations.
To increase the expat travel demand, tourism players must understand the mechanisms that encourage expats travel.

• Time – note expats do not always follow the Bangladeshi holidays and long holidays are often spend abroad
• Company – a group of friends or visitors from abroad
• A reason to go – expats will make time to go if we want to see a local Durga Puja event or the honey collectors in Sundarbans
• Recommendations from trusted sources (mostly family, friend, social expat club members, colleagues, travel writers, guide books etc.) Note expat newcomers do know where to go and what to see in Bangladesh, but they have read some of the disaster stories in Western media. This newly-landed group of people, especially families with children, will often not take a chance with unknown tour operators or destinations.
• Have certain values: adventures mind, can settle for basic accommodation and change of travel plans, seeking nature/culture, wanting to learn about Bangladesh and the society. In short this segment is the market of so-called eco / nature / culture / sustainable-tourism.
• Enjoy to interact with Bangladeshis. Note here that language problems can be a huge barrier for expats to communicate demand, get information’s and interact. Furthermore private space in western society is larger than in Bangladesh and some golden haired children are actually terrified with the frequent attention they receive from locals. This is a reason NOT to travel for several expat families with children.
• Lack of security, which are mainly focusing on transport. Examples are a reckless driver, dense traffic, lack of safety facilities (like safety belts or life jacket), night transportation and crowded public transportation.
• Accurate information – some tour operators promise luxury accommodation after a 2 hours drive to Dinajpur. This is often too good to be true and the conclusion is that the product was oversold – even if the holiday turned out positive.
• Price and quality match – many expats have high income and products should not be sold on price – but quality.
• Customized products. In western societies we are use to a large product variation to choose from and we expect to get what we ask for. We expect to tell people our requirements and get customized products – and we will gladly pay the price and be satisfied. Not all tourism providers are able to fulfill customers’ demand, which might be related to lack of language skills, interest or management.
• Western service expectations and business etiquette are sometimes very different from Bangladesh – and being treaded different than you expect can create a lot of frustration.
In my own experience my worst experience was when I bought a trip to Malaysia from a local tour operator. I was presented for a fixed tourist product – take it or leave it attitude, the information on their web-page was not updated (which was what made me come in the first place), lack of knowledge on product details (like where the hotel was situated), not able to tell me a fixed price, not able to find a payment solution (as I did not have a Bangladeshi bank account) etc. I had to visit the office 3 times, race my voice and talk with the director, before I had the tickets in my hand. I will never go back!

This article is written by Majbritt Thomsen, administrator on ‘Views On Tourism’.

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