Dream Weaver Travel - Dudley Parkinson is a Cameroon RPCV who is starting a travel company specializing in ecologically and culturally appropriate tours to West Africa

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Cameroon: Peace Corps Cameroon: Peace Corps in Cameroon: Dream Weaver Travel - Dudley Parkinson is a Cameroon RPCV who is starting a travel company specializing in ecologically and culturally appropriate tours to West Africa

By Admin1 (admin) on Saturday, June 30, 2001 - 9:32 pm: Edit Post

Dream Weaver Travel - Dudley Parkinson is a Cameroon RPCV who is starting a travel company specializing in ecologically and culturally appropriate tours to West Africa



Dream Weaver Travel - Dudley Parkinson is a Cameroon RPCV who is starting a travel company specializing in ecologically and culturally appropriate tours to West Africa

How long have you been in business?

Dudley Parkinson, owner and operator of DreamWeaver Travel, has over seven years of experience working and traveling in West Africa(mostly with the Peace Corps as Volunteer and staff member). He has visited all of the areas to which DreamWeavers is offering trips and has personally selected all of the guides and local tour operators based on their level of experience and committment to a sustainable tourism ethic.

Dudley has a BA in Ecology and a Masters in Community Education and has been active in environmental organizations for most of his life. He is committed to promoting sustainable environmentally and culturally appropriate tourism through his own business and through membership in such organizations as The Ecotourism Society and Conservation International.

Although DreamWeavers is a new company, we believe that this combination of experience and dedication to matters concerning West Africa and the environment will assure that we are a positive force in the industry for a long time to come and that we offer truly extraordinary experiences to our clients.

How do you support conservation efforts in your region and how do you minimize travel impact on the environment?

DreamWeavers' founder and owner, Dudley Parkinson, is a member of a local environmental group, the Kinnikinnic River Land Trust, and also of The Ecotourism Society and Conservation International. Throughout his life he has been active in local, national, and international conservation, sustainable living, and environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, Students for Environmental Defense, GreenPeace, and many others.

DreamWeaver Travel attempts to minimize the negative impacts of our activities on the environment. We believe fervently that we (our staff, guides, and travelers) have a responsibility to the Earth and to the communities we visit to practice culturally and environmentally sustainable travel. In addition, we recycle as much as possible, favor locally-owned businesses, attempt to leave as much of the "tourist dollar" as possible with local communities, and support local sustainable development initiatives. We insist on eco-friendly behavior on the part of everyone involved with our tours, including our guests.

How does your business positively benefit and/or involve the local community (e.g. employment opportunities or community development, or partnerships with local womens' groups)?

In addition to the above (it's sometimes hard to draw the line between cultural and environmental sensitivity!), DreamWeavers has already made arrangements with three of the communities we visit to contribute a small fee per traveler to be donated to the local community development fund. We plan to expand this program to other communities we visit.

Most of our tours will feature at least two days and nights of family homestays, with time allotted for discussions of the local culture, exchanges of experiences, participation in daily work and family activities, etc.

How do you support your customers before, during and after their stay with you? Do you provide information on the natural and cultural environments of your destinations prior to departure?

DreamWeavers will send customers extensive information on the culture, climate, and language of the areas to be visited, as well as info on obtaining visas, immunizations required, and recommended packing lists. Our guides are experienced professionals who are accustomed to offering cultural, safety and security, and language support for their guests.

The first publication of our newsletter, "DREAMS," will be printed around January 1, 2001! We will also be distributing surveys to give travelers the opportunity to comme nt on their experiences and recommend improvements to our services.

Can you help individuals and small groups custom-design a trip?

That's what we excell in! DreamWeavers would love to work with you to create a trip tailored to your own needs and interests, your own DREAMS! Being a small company, we are able to give each of our travelers the individual attention necessary to insure their travel to West Africa is a positive experience. We can help to any extent you desire - from just some advice to a completely designed trip down to the last glass of wine. You decide how much help you desire.

DREAMWEAVER TRAVEL (or Dudley Parkinson) is a member of the following organizations:

The Ecotourism Society Co-op America National Geographic Society Friends of Togo Friends of Niger Friends of Cameroon Returned Peace Corps Volunteers for the Environment and Sustainable Development World Wildlife Fund


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