Tourism in the Minca area has increased rapidly in recent years and unplanned tourism development presents significant challenges for local communities and the natural environment. Our mission as a student group is to support capacity for Misión Gaia’s Solidarity Tourism Initiative through performing a full tourism assessment during our 3 week trip in January 2014. Our ultimate goal is to design lasting strategies, including guidelines and action plans that aim to empower the local community through environmentally and socially conscious tourism development.

On our trip, we will have the opportunity to work with community stakeholders in small groups to conduct a Tourism Assessment, including a SWOT Analysis, examining the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats for sustainable tourism. We will also develop a detailed Impact Matrix for the stakeholders, offering them strategic advice on what activities and ventures should be prioritized to meet their goals. We’ll go on to create an Action Plan with the community, work with small-scale farmers and eco-entrepreneurs, develop long-lasting relationships and gain on the ground experience in project design and implementation! Even better—we will get to do all of this in one of the most beautiful places on earth.