Under the Expedia Employee Volunteer Program, Expedia employees are paired with local tourism companies to create cultural and ecological tours. These tours provide a unique experience for tourists and benefit the community through additional economic revenue, preservation of local traditions and environmental conservation.

Examples of the tours this year include a traditional tour of the Laguna Azul (Blue Lagoon), with outdoor activities and interpretive trails; and a tour featuring community traditions like indigenous medicine, cooking, storytelling, dances and the manufacturing of local goods.

This is the second round of the program, which organizers hope will be as successful as the first in the Yucatan Peninsula.

The World Heritage Alliance has also brought other travel industry leaders on board, including hotels, resorts and travel agencies, in an effort to implement sustaianble business practices, feature local products and goods, and educate travellers about sustainable tourism.

Via MaximsNews.com

Further reading on eco-travel from Green Options:

Introduction to Travelers' Philanthropy
Preserving the Social Norms and Cultures of Local and Indigenous Communities
Eco-Travel