The Travel Foundation

Our Overseas Team

• Adama Bah - The Gambia
• Annette Tingle - Jamaica
• Charmaine Sealey - Barbados
• Philippos Drousiotis - Cyprus
• Sema Atay - Turkey
• Semsi Toprak - Turkey
• Vicky Erdogan - Turkey
• Yuritzin Flores - Mexico

 

Adama Bah - The Gambia

In 2004 I helped to design the ‘Gambia is Good’ (GiG) project and I am presently the Programme Manager of the Travel Foundation in The Gambia. The Travel Foundation is funding the ‘GiG farm Yard’, a training and demonstration farm which is helping the training of mainly women farmers in the horticultural sector as well as other projects like the ‘Jufureh Roots excursion’. In November 2004 I won an international award for making The Greatest Contribution to Responsible Tourism and again in 2008 I received another award on behalf of the GiG project on poverty reduction thanks to the support provided by the Travel Foundation to this project. I am known internationally as an advocate of responsible tourism and through my work with the Travel Foundation I am able to validate the fact that tourism when managed properly in destinations like The Gambia can contribute to local economic development, provide positive experience to visitors and create good business to investors.

 

Annette Tingle- Jamaica

I joined the Travel Foundation as the programme officer for Jamaica in April 2011.  Before joining the Travel Foundation, I worked in the travel and tourism industry for over 20 years, including as an executive manager in the Ministry of Tourism. I am now managing projects that help local communities benefit from tourism, and conserve the local environment, including: a project with bee keepers near Kingston to develop a sustainable livelihood from honey production, assisting fisher folk in Bluefields, to create and protect a fish sanctuary and educate the wider community about sustainable fishing practices, helping Jamaican hoteliers to reduce water and energy usage, and working on a project to generate opportunity and income among inner-city youth producing recycled glass jewellery.

 

Charmaine Sealey - Barbados

I was introduced to The Travel Foundation in March 09 and was afforded the opportunity of being the Caribbean Project Manager for their water and energy conservation project, Switch Off Save Big. This was a perfect match for me as I had previously worked for Virgin Holidays as their Barbados Service Manager and had completed the Travelife Sustainable Audit certification, which increased my interest for sustainable tourism. The Switch Off Save Big project has taken off really well in the Caribbean and has afforded me the opportunity to learn so much about various areas of sustainability. My passion lies in heightening the awareness of tourism suppliers in local communities to the importance of taking responsible actions so that these destinations can remain desirable places to visit.

 

Philippos Drousiotis - Cyprus

I have been in the Tourism Industry since 1990 when I worked as a General Manager in the hotel industry. I am currently the Business Development Manager for Cyprotels Hotels & Resorts and I have been the General Manager of Droushia Heights Hotel for many years. I have also taught Hotel Management and Sales & Marketing in the hospitality industry at the College of Tourism in Cyprus. I am the Chairman of the CSTI (Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative) which is affiliated to the Travel Foundation. We are proud to have recently been given an award by the CTO acknowledging our efforts in sustainable tourism. Our biggest successes for the TF have been the Village Route’s and the Water & Energy Saving projects.

 

 

Sema Atay - Turkey

Since 1992 when I first joined DHKD (The Turkish Society for the Conservation of Nature) I have been involved in many nature conservation and rural development projects. After starting work with the Travel Foundation, I noticed many similarities in their mission, ultimate aim and work policy. Although I knew that uncontrolled mass tourism could be problematic, it was when I actually got involved with the tourism industry that I became aware of the true importance and the urgent need for the implementation of sustainable tourism principles.  I work on the Taste of Fethiye project which has developed an innovative system for linking  tourism and local agriculture. The project brings together  local communities, governmental agencies, scientisits, NGOs and bussinessmen to increase farmers benefit from tourism and encourage hotels to promote their use of local produce.

 

 

Semsi Toprak - Turkey

I have been working in agricultural industry more than 10 years and joined Travel Foundation in 2012 as the local coordinator in Taste of Fethiye project.  We are developing a local fresh fruit and vegetable brand with farmers and marketing these products to hotels in Fethiye district. Taste of Fethiye is the first local fruit and vegetable brand in this area and I feel lucky that I’ve been given opportunity to be part of such a program.  We organise farmers; give information and education about improved production techniques and sustainable agriculture. Taste of Fethiye is also a bright example of how cooperating among farmers plays an important role for better marketing. I believe this project will present  a great model for all corporations and farming communities  in Turkey.

 

 

Vicky Erdogan - Turkey

I joined the Travel Foundation in March 2011 as Hotels and Marketing Co coordinator for the ‘Taste of Fethiye’ project in Turkey. My background is in travel, having worked for the tour industry overseas for the past 25 years and I have been involved and very interested in sustainable and environmental tourism. My home is now in a beautiful region of Turkey which has so much to offer both in terms of tourism potential and from its agricultural heritage. The project aims to bring these two sectors together  and to improve the lives of the local farmers and producers in the region as well as raising awareness with the tourism sector of the wonderful fresh fruit and vegetable produce grown right on our doorstep. My role involves liaising with the hotels and tour operators to raise awareness of the’ Taste of Fethiye’ logo. I also assist the local producers in helping them market their produce as well as encouraging holiday makers to explore the local village areas. I feel very strongly that we all need to support the community in which we live and this project certainly aims to do just that.

 

Yuritzin Flores - Mexico

I joined The Travel Foundation team in September of 2006, when I was invited to work in the Mexican Caribbean Programme. Since starting work for the Travel Foundation there have been two ideas that I have embraced: community livelihoods and safeguarding natural resources. Cancun has been my hometown since I was 8 years old, and as time has passed by, I’ve seen how the landscapes have changed. I feel fortunate to live in such a paradise but I do feel responsible for preserving it as well. So, through projects such as Pitahaya jam production in Maya communities, Whale Shark best practices training and the upcoming Rescue for Mayan Bee & Melipona honey production, I’m sure I can engrave a difference for my people and region.