February - March 2011
Harigovindan recognized by British High Commissions Music Entrepreneur 2011 award:
Over the last five years, The Blue Yonder got opportunities to work with many social innovators. One among them, Njaralathu Harigovindan, recently came runner-up in the British High Commission supported Music Entrepreneur 2011 award. He has been in the forefront to bring changes to destinations. We are proud to be associated with this young musician who fought his way to bring attention of the world to the talents of many musicians of Kerala who were largely ignored because of still prevailing caste practices in the region.
Recently, David Stott, the editor of Footprint handbook for India came visiting the music campus that Harigovindan had single handedly built. "Representing this generation, people like us have a responsibility to respond to our surrounding. This was mine and I am glad I didn't give up'. Hari says. Read more in detail
Inviting inspiring stories from destinations at ITB Berlin: submit your entry
Share your inspirational story about the destination you work in and have the opportunity to present at ITB Responsible Tourism Networking in Berlin. This is your chance to WOW industry associates and potential buyers with real life examples of how responsible tourism is powering positive change in your destination.
Entries are requested to email their 5 minute stories (or 1 A4 page) to us by the 1st of March 2011. Successful applicants will be notified by email by the 5th of March 2011. Please mention the following information at the beginning of your story: Your Name, Email, Organisation and Destination.
Meet us at hall 4.1/201 ITB Berlin:
The Blue Yonder will be exhibiting at Hall 4.1/201 showcasing our holidays and new experiences for the coming season. Our colleagues Sandra Wels and Gopinath Parayil (Gopi) will be glad to meet up with you. We have some more slots available for appointments. Kindly write to Sandra (at) theblueyonder (dot) com for more details.
This year is also special for The Blue Yonder because we are the official sustainable tourism partner of ITB Berlin. Gopi will also be talking at the ITB Congress on a panel discussing the topic "The CSR Conscious Tourist: Marginal or High-Potential?". Listen to our views at 1600 on 10th March 2011, which is also incidentally ITB CSR day.
As in previous years, we will be taking the lead to organize Responsible Tourism networking on the 11th of March 2011. 1630 will saw the launch of presentation of five inspiring stories from destination.
Social media redefines sector boundaries. How tourism supports palliative movement? :
"I am investigating the possibilities of creating awareness of non -malignant palliative issues among various communities and to encourage community participation, and would like some ideas and advice. Thank you very much."
We are almost certain that not many travel companies will receive enquiries unrelated to holiday planning! This was a message The Blue Yonder team received from a Palliative Care doctor in South Africa recently. For us, this is a proof of a maturing relation ship between two social enterprises. One working to spread the community owned palliative care to rest of the world and the other a sustainable tourism operator using tourism as a tool to bring attention of the world to successful and inspiring initiatives like Kozhikode model of Palliative.