Travel Trade Gazette David Gilmour Interview
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knowledge latin america ttglive.com In 2008 the Latin American Travel Association set up its own charity in the UK – the Lata Foundation. Katy Balls asks its chairman, David Gilmour, about recent developments and how agents can get involved What is the foundation’s role? It was set up by the Latin American Travel Association (Lata) – a consortium of hotels, airlines, tour operators and ground agents –to put something back and to have a lasting and positive impact. To date we have funded nine projects throughout Latin America. We also have two new projects in Mexico – one is to build a fountain in Puerto Vallarta that will provide safe drinking water for 500 people a day, and we need £1,900 or so to achieve that. The other project is for a sewing school Sustainable development Charity starts abroad in the same area. We need £900 to buy 12 sewing machines so that women in the area can get trained and earn an income. Tourism in Latin America is booming. Is it important to give something back? Yes, putting something back is responsible business. Passengers respect agencies that give back to the area, so being responsible can actually help agencies with business. There are so many charities around. What do you think makes the Lata Foundation stand out? The foundation is run entirely by volunteers and we have a vast range of contacts across Latin America. This has meant we have been able to pick projects that really matter and that we have been able to really help. We have no office overheads, so our supporters can be confident that every pound they give goes straight to our projects. There are a lot of charities out there, but if an agency has a particular tie to Latin America, we would love them to choose us to work with. Agents and customers can help with tree-planting in Peru
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An interview for Travel Trade Gazette with David Gilmour about his charity work in South America. Interview by Katy Balls.
Transcript of Travel Trade Gazette David Gilmour Interview
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knowledge latin america ttglive.com
In 2008 the Latin American Travel Association set up its own charity in the UK – the Lata Foundation. Katy Balls asks its chairman, DavidGilmour, about recent developmentsand how agents can get involved
What is the foundation’s role?It was set up by the Latin American Travel Association (Lata) – a consortium of hotels,airlines, tour operators and ground agents–to put something back and to have a lasting and positive impact.
To date we have funded nine projectsthroughout Latin America. We also havetwo new projects in Mexico – one is tobuild a fountain in Puerto Vallarta thatwill provide safe drinking water for 500people a day, and we need £1,900 or so toachieve that.
The other project is for a sewing school
Sustainable development
Charity starts abroadin the same area. We need £900 to buy 12sewing machines so that women in thearea can get trained and earn an income.
Tourism in Latin America is booming.Is it important to give something back? Yes, putting something back is responsiblebusiness. Passengers respect agencies thatgive back to the area, so being responsiblecan actually help agencies with business.
There are so many charities around.What do you think makes the LataFoundation stand out?The foundation is run entirely by volunteersand we have a vast range of contacts acrossLatin America. This has meant we havebeen able to pick projects that really matterand that we have been able to really help.
We have no office overheads, so our supporters can be confident that every
pound they give goes straight to our projects.There are a lot of charities out there, but
if an agency has a particular tie to LatinAmerica, we would love them to choose usto work with.
Agents and customers can help with tree-planting in Peru
LATIN AMERICA 7-8 4/1/11 16:05 Page 50
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How much has the Foundation raisedso far? We have raised £30,000 and have spent£29,500 of that on various projects.
How can travel agents get involved?They can sponsor us directly, or look at ourcorporate sponsorship possibilities. Theycould donate £5, or £1, for every customerthat books a holiday to Latin America.
They could also invite customers to make a donation before or after their holiday to Latin America.
Or they could adopt a turtle, whichmakes a nice little present for some-one.
If agents would like to visit ourprojects we are happy to do all wecan to help.
For example, customersand agents can get involvedin our reforestation tree-planting project in Peru.
If they would like to volunteer for a month or so,there are opportunities forthem to do that in Bolivia.
How can agents find out more?By coming to see us at the DestinationsShow at Earls Court from February 3-6.
We have a stand there with more information and videos of our work inPeru and Buenos Aires that have beenmade by film-maker Louise Martindaleand journalist Ali McClymont.
Agents can also go to our websiteand sign up to our newsletters.
■ latafoundation.org
PRODUCT NEWSEcuador will open a new international airport in November 2011, 25km outside the capital city Quito. Its lower altitude and longer runway will make Quitomore accessible for larger aircraft.■ quito.com.ec
Journey Latin America is running a one-off group tour toPeru to arrive at Machu Picchu on the 100th anniversaryof Hiram Bingham’s discovery of the ruined city (July 24).It departs from the UK on July 14 and costs from £4,328.■ journeylatinamerica.co.uk
Travelsphere is featuring Colombia and Bolivia for thefirst time in 2011. A 10-night Colombia: Culture, Coffee & the Caribbean tour costs from £2,899 per person. ■ travelsphere.co.uk
Tam commenced its daily service from Sao Paulo, Brazilto Bogota, Colombia, last month. The airline also recentlytrialled the use of biofuel on a 45-minute round-trip fromRio de Janeiro – the first such trial in Latin America.■ tam.com.br
Travel 2’s 2011 Worldwide brochure has 60 pages of LatinAmerica product, including beach resorts on Mexico’s Riviera Maya for the first time. Travel 2 has also partneredwith Gap Adventures on escorted small group journeys. ■ travel2.com
One of the foundation’s projects is developing a sewing school
Foundation chairman David Gilmour
LATIN AMERICA 7-8 4/1/11 16:06 Page 51
