Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

October 30th - November 1st, 2008

The BIMP-EAGA community based eco-tourism conference in Manado, North Sulawesi will raise awareness and understanding of the potential and opportunities of land and marine-based eco-tourism development in region. the conference will explore the benefits of community based eco-tourism by presenting experiences/lessons leant as well as developing win-win partnerships in eco-tourism between local communities, the private sector and public sector. Issues and trends in community based eco-tourism development, operations, marketing, and regulations will also be discussed at the various forums.

An added feature of this conference will be the preparation of a road map for marketing the BIMP-EAGA as a Single Community Based Eco-tourism Destination. The initiatives and outcomes of the meetings will be conveyed and proposed at the upcoming BIMP-EAGA SOMM/ Leaders forum.

An eco-tourism showcase/ exhibition will also be held simultaneous with the conference and will feature eco-tourism destinations in BIMP-EAGA, products of eco-tourism related technology, and eco-certification organization and initiaves.

BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Indonesia Malaysia and the Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area. It is a sub regional cooperation that includes the country of Brunei Darussalam, the islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, and Moluccus in Eastern Indonesia, the island of Labuan, the States of Sarawak and Sabah in Borneo Malaysia, as well as the islands of Mindanao and Palawan in Southern Philippines.

The sub region is rich in natural heritage. It has two of the richest tropical rain forests (Borneo and Papua) as well as the most diverse marine eco-system (Sulu-Sulawesi Sea) anywhere in the world coupled with tribal cultures as varied as its flora and fauna. The conservation and protection of its environment is of paramount importance to the world.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Entrepreneurs, tour operators, policy makers in national and local governments, strategic planners, non government organizations, environmentalists, community leaders, and anyone interested in sustainable management of our natural resources in the BIMP-EAGA sub region.