ESP has approved Collaboration with following best practicing partners for "Networking of Responsible Tourism Organisations". 

Disclaimer: This collaboration and partnership is for the promotion of tourism in the region and all partners of this collaboration are responsible for their own conduct and ESP shall not bear responsibility for financial, professional, legal conduct of any of its Regional Partner. This networking is without charge and any reference to products, services, links and other information does not constitute recommendation, endorsement or sponsorship and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Ecotourism Society Pakistan.

The Armenian Ecotourism Association (ARMECAS) was created in 1997 to unite the people who regard ecotourism as a means of sustainable development of the country. Members of our organization are people of different professions; most of them are specialists in areas of natural and cultural heritage and the tourism business. The Armenian Ecotourism Association (ARMECAS) is a non-governmental non-profit organization founded to provide support and assistance for the revive and restore of the natural and cultural-historical heritage of Armenia, as well as improving the welfare of the population through the development of ecotourism.

GEOGRAPHIC TRAVEL CLUB Armenia offers tour packages for individual tourists and groups to numerous partners abroad. Tour packages include full service in Armenia such as air tickets, hotel accommodation, meals, excursions, transfers, guide escorts, and such. In addition to tours in Armenia , our company also offers unique combination tours: Armenia - Georgia, Armenia - Iran, Armenia - Eastern Anatolia. It also provide training and education for sustainable tourism. Company encourages non-traditional forms of tourism such as trekking, horse hiking, hiking, wine tours, rock climbing and ski tours.

Nongovernmental organization “Karaganda Ecological Museum” was established in 1997 with the aim of collection and dissemination of ecology information on the territory of Central Kazakhstan for the increase of public role in solving actual ecological problems and the development of democracy processes in the society. One of the lines of EcoMuseum activity is the development of community based ecological tourism in Central Kazakhstan.

enjoys good reputation in the Uzbekistan tourism market and offering competitive prices and good service. It promotes and operate cultural and ecological tours to Khiva, Samarkand, Bokhara and also Aral Sea. It operates tours everywhere in the region otherwise.  Al-Shayan Travel Agency will Focal Organisation in Tashkent Uzbekistan.

Silk Road Tourism Association from Kyrgyz Republic is a voluntary non-profit organization and a merger entities in the development of tourism on the Silk Road. It works for coordination, representation and protection of members of the Association to provide legal, information and other services, as well as creating the necessary industrial and social infrastructure. The organisation is very much respected by tourism industry of Central Asia. It supports regional development, fights against poverty and tries to expand the influence of Central Asian tourism around the world. Vladimir Komissarov is President of Organisation.

Kyrgyz Community Based Tourism Association association’s objective is to improve living conditions in remote mountain regions by developing a sustainable and wholesome ecotourism model that utilizes local natural and recreational resources. Located in the capital Bishkek, KCBTA is an umbrella association uniting 17 diverse destination communities (“CBT groups”) plus a 5-group association of shepherd families offering jailoo (yurt) tourism (“Shepherds’ Life”). The CBT association was registered on January 3, 2003 with support from Helvetas Kyrgyzstan Programme’s Community Based Tourism Support Project (CBT SP) with operations throughout the country.

Discover Nepal was established in Nepal in 1998 through an agreement with the Social Welfare Council, Chief District Office, Kathmandu District and District Development Committee – Kathmandu District. The aim of Discover Nepal is to provide opportunities for the involvement in the development process, and to practically contribute towards the socio-economic development of the country. 

Tours operates from Gilgit to all parts of North of Pakistan including Sust Pak-China border. Raikot Sarai is the most spectacular ecotourism resort of Pakistan located atop the heavily forested Fairy Meadows in North Pakistan, at an altitude of 3306m. Established in 1992, this tourist destination is highly popular among mountaineers and trekking enthusiasts for its exhilarating ‘Nanga Parbat Experience’. Looking on from the Sarai lodges one can see the Raikot Glacier yawning beneath the North face of the Killer Mountain. Studded with alpine trees, Fairy Meadows gets its name from the legendary claim that fairies inhabit the meadow. Nestled at the foot of the towering Nanga Parbat (8126m) this location offers a spectacular view of surrounding landscape. One can indulge in a truly unique experience of the Nanga Parbat, watching from the Raikot resort at a distance so close --- it leaves you captivated.

The Region

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Ecotourism Society Pakistan (ESP) announces "Networking of Responsible Tourism Organisations". It  invites all regional intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, tour operators and other stakeholders of South Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe to institute stronger and closer relationship. Central Asia Membership has been closed and Central Asian Networking has been completed.  Last date for Eastern European membership is August 31, 2010

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Historical Perspectives

Fauna, flora and cultures do not understand political boundaries. Pakistan historically and geographically links with South Asia, Central Asia and  Eastern Europe. Traditional links are found in all these regions therefore Ecotourism Society Pakistan (ESP) believes that a strong interaction among all these regions are inevitable to establish a practical, workable and profitable tourism market networking.  History, culture join this region through linage of Mongols, Tamerlane (Taimur) invasions and control of long rule of Ottoman Empire.

Taimur followed the routes of Genghis Khan for the expansion of his empire and his constant encounters with South Asia and Eastern Europe created a uniformed culture. If you walk through the streets of old Delhi, Isfahan, Baku or old city of Lahore; you just feel you are walking in the streets of Bokhara. Same architectural designs, same wooden doors having similar carving designs you find in all these old cities. These cities have same cultural texture. People standing in balconies (in Urdu Balkoi or Balkani) and same sound in Ukrainian as áàëêîí, enjoying wonderful winter (Sarma in Urdu---zima in Persian and same sound in Çèìà in Ukrainian) with a cup of tea that is Chai in Urdu and same sound ×âàè in Uzbek, Ukrainian and Russian languages. Sometime you shall find people enjoying same cup of tea in sitting on sofa (Sofa in Urdu and Persian as Divan and same sound in Ukrainian and Russian as Äèâàí). Spending evenings sitting in verandas (Varanda in Urdu and same sound in Ukrainian as Âåðàíäà), people of these cities sing folklores still in Lahore and Bokhara.

Surprisingly embroidery of India, Pakistan, Iran, Central Asian states and Western Ukrainian have same colours, same design and even similar flowers patrons. These areas were disintegrated politically after Russian revolution and an iron wall was constructed around Central Asia and Eastern Europe with a billboard of “Communist bloc”. Since 1992 disintegration of Russia, people have again start travelling in Central Asia from South Asia and smile to see central Asian culture that is similar to their own culture. Travelling is now further extending towards Eastern Europe but that still needs more interaction among tour operators of these regions by offering package tours of Central Asia and Eastern Europe together.

Philosophical Perspectives

Today world peace is victim of conflicts ranging from geographical to conceptual and from political to religious. Agonies of humans are growing multidimensional and one of the reason rather core reason of such financial, political and social unrest is lack of “Oneness” and absence of “Interfaith Harmony” from societies. Achieving harmony among races, cultures, continents and religions is a major issue for individuals and groups that feel pain for millions of poor, powerless, homeless and hopeless people around the world.  Meeting each other, living together for some time helps to understand each other and Tourism has always been an important tool for such meetings. Tourism since long works as modality of brining harmony among people and exposure of East to West was historically became possible through tourists. Ecotourism Society Pakistan attempts to bring about peace, harmony, tolerance and ONENESS through The Region Initiative.  It will not only develop and promote tourism in the region rather it also attempts to achieve more harmony and peace in the region.  This region is very diversify not in races but also in believes comprising believers of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Agnosticism and Atheism. Bridging South Asia, Central Asia and Eastern Europe is the perfect attempt   Oneness brings Peace.

Tourism Development Perspectives

Blending and Connecting tour operators and tourism bodies for offering tours around the year. Example--- Eastern European tour operators can offer tours to their clients to India, Nepal and Pakistan when extreme weather make people shy to travel to Eastern Europe. Companies of Nepal and India can offer tourism to Eastern Europe or Central Asia when temperature goes as high as 52c in many parts of sun-continent. Therefore tourism stakeholders can get good business around the year  if they have better reach and networking in other regions.

Ecological Perspectives

Extreme weathers---winter---summer and extreme monsoon can only be enjoyed in these 3 regions of the world. Therefore these regions having a extreme diversification in fauna, flora, topography, culture, customs and social fabric but connected strongly through history and cultural roots. 

About ESP

ESP links people concerned with mountain development and research and is also running on-line Information Sharing Data Bank (ISDB). It provides guidelines and information on mountain initiatives and alerts the communities to timely actions, as well as the value of sharing information about mountain environments. This organization was founded by former Consultant Ministry of Tourism Government of Pakistan Agha Iqrar Haroon in May 1997. Now ESP works through its core team including engineer Raza Nadir and journalist Naheed Niazi. It is collaborating organisation of Tourism Ministry of government of Pakistan since year 2002. ESP is also listed in UNEP Major Group Directory of Professional Organisations. ESP is an organization working in the field of tourism having basic aim of helping the poor living in northern areas of region. It promotes sustainable mountain development through improved communication among institutions and individuals----with a particular focus on mountain eco-regions within Pakistan and abroad. In pursuing this purpose, it collaborates with like-minded stakeholders. ESP is the Regional Partners of  The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) United States and Friends of Nature International Austria which have been working for the better future of tourism and Nature. The core duties of ESP include advocacy for poor people living in remote mountain areas through international networking. It wishes to connect with like minded organizations for expanding the base for a better future of travelers, communities, nature and earth. It offers like minded organizations of Central Asia, Eastern Europe and South Asia to join hands and work together for a better future.

Membership is free and Society is not taking any grants, contribution or financial support. Core members bear running expenditures. This arrangement has been followed to inform people that if there is a will to do something good for a good cause, there is no need of huge donations or funds. ESP can be considered as an association working for the purpose of advancing knowledge and disseminating information about mountain research and mountain development throughout the world devoted to multidisciplinary research. It has identified some relevant themes concerning economics, geography, environment and management in connection with integrated tourism activities. One of the objectives of the ESP is to produce and publish worthy research literature on-line on tourism. ESP conducts researches on environmentally critical areas where tourism has posed a problem or may interface with the sensitive resources.