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BIMP-EAGA
Yacht Rallies
The
BIMP-EAGA
Yacht Rallies
are a
practical outcome of the
BIMP-EAGA Business
Council's
October 2008 conference (in Manado)
on Community-based Sustainable Ecotourism. The conference
theme was Poverty Alleviation through Community-based
Ecotourism.
BIMP
- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines
EAGA
- East ASEAN Growth Area
Apart from the
beautiful anchorages, beaches and spectacular scenery,
the rallies are designed to introduce
participating crews to the diversity of culture, wildlife,
habitats, traditions and unique national characteristics of
BIMP-EAGA.
The communication
services from
BRUNEI
BAY
RADIO,
in combination with information and local organisation from
BIMP-EAGA
tour operators, are designed to give cruising yachts the
confidence to explore the relatively isolated - but
beautiful - areas of BIMP-EAGA. These support services are
intended to provide a level of knowledge and advice so yacht
crews feel confident to undertake these journeys into areas
where the hectic pace of a modern world is yet to reach.
BIMP-EAGA
has been identified as a key future bread-basket for the
world. The wealth of traditional knowledge, the steadily
emerging understanding of hidden genetic material, and the rich marine and
terrestrial eco-systems, all contribute to this expectation.
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BIMP-EAGA
includes some of
the largest remaining areas of rainforest in the
world. A vast repository of plants, wildlife and
genetic material to help sustain future generations. |
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BIMP-EAGA
includes key environmental preservation regions - the Coral
Triangle and the Heart of Borneo - which have prompted
scientists, national leaders and the business community to
speak in a unified voice about the vital need to preserve and protect the
incredible eco diversity.
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The
Coral Triangle is reputed to contain 75%
of the known species of coral in the world. Over 25%
of fish caught in developing countries are from coral
reefs. (source: Coral Triangle Center) |
The
BIMP-EAGA
Tourism Council has
embraced the concept of Community-Based
Sustainable Ecotourism to help preserve the region's
cultural and natural heritage by developing viable tourism
operations to generate sustainable income for local communities. Tourism income
can replace food and income from more damaging practices,
and thereby help preserve the environment, the cultures and the
unique traditional knowledge about the wildlife and their
habitats.
The
BIMP-EAGA
Yacht Rallies
combine the established resources, experience and
operations of the
BIMP-EAGA Tourism Council's
members in each area, with the communication
services of BRUNEI BAY RADIO,
the tour and travel operations of IntrepidTours
and the sailing experience of
INTREPIDYACHTING.
It is expected that some
aspects of the route, venues visited and local attractions
will vary each year to integrate special
celebrations, local events and to highlight developing
Community-Based Sustainable Ecotourism
(CBET) programmes.
The rally routes will therefore
aim to incorporate
stops at venues that facilitate environmental
preservation in combination with local communities, at communities
which are embarking on sustainable
eco-tourism projects, and at venues where conservation
programmes are underway. Where practical, this will
include pilot Community-Based
Sustainable Ecotourism
programmes facilitated by the Asian Development Bank in support
of
BIMP-EAGA.
The self-sufficient
nature of cruising yachts - with their own accommodation -
will enable participating crews to be pioneer visitors to
Community-Based Sustainable Ecotourism
programmes. In some areas, participating crews
will have the opportunity to contribute to service projects
that help further the BIMP-EAGA Tourism Cluster's dual goals
of environmental and cultural heritage preservation.
In line with the BIMP-EAGA Tourism Cluster's
Go-Green Project
for tourism, rally fleets will be limited to approximately 15 yachts and
50 crew. This will reduce the groups' impact on local
resources, help streamline CIQ procedures, and facilitate access to smaller venues,
or environmentally sensitive locations. If additional yachts wish to participate, there may be
two or more rally
fleets, travelling approximately two weeks apart.
BIMP-EAGA
Yacht Rallies
will incorporate an
educational theme. The aim is to help participants
understand the importance of the amazing cultural and
environmental heritage within
BIMP-EAGA,
and to learn how their own activities can contribute to the
protection and preservation of these important resources.
Rally programmes will aim to incorporate environmental
projects, scientists and local people contributing to this
effort.
BIMP-EAGA
Yacht Rallies
will incorporate an
adventurous theme. As with any adventure,
it will not be possible to precisely schedule all
eventualities or to insulate participating crews from local
circumstances. If it was, we would lose the adventure, the
excitement of unexpected experiences and the personal
rewards that come only from interacting with new places and
different people. Apart from the rally schedule and
participants, variables
such as weather, boat maintenance, local characters and local culture will all
play a role in creating the overall rally experience. These
rallies will not be the sterilised, pasteurised and
homogenised travel experience
available from the couch at home, watching TV.
BIMP-EAGA
Yacht Rallies
will incorporate a
journey of discovery. For most people, the unique culture
and environment will be dramatically different to normal
life back home. This journey will immerse participating
crews in the challenges and occasional frustration of exploring, meeting, engaging, enjoying and learning. Not quite the pioneering experience of Alfred
Russell Wallace during his 19th Century explorations of the
region, but certainly not a weekend cruise, party and return
to the comfortable predictability of a normal Monday!
In addition to the
enjoyment and adventure of sailing to exotic locations, interacting with a diversity of people along
the way, plus the fun of activities and the excitement of
the journey, it is expected that participants
in the
BIMP-EAGA
Yacht Rallies
will take with them an expanded wisdom and understanding of
the people and nature of this region; developed from an engaging immersion in the
this incredible cultural and natural heritage.
If you would like to add
your contact details to our database to be updated with
rally information, please click on the For inquiries ....
link below.
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