Bonito, Brazil – WTTC Destination Award Nominee

Posted by TravelKorner on April 9, 2014 in Destination - South America, English | Leave a comment

The word Bonito is an adjective common to both Spanish and Portuguese, meaning beautiful, it also the name which describes perfectly a small city and pristine tourism region in Brazil.

The key of keeping its natural beautiful started in 1995 by the region’s Tourism Council, which realized managing the visitation would ultimately protect the environment from the impacts of mass tourism. Thanks to that foresight by a network of local stakeholders all wanting to conserve the area which includes part of the Serra da Bodoquena National Park.

All natural attractions in Bonito have daily visitor limits, enforced by the vouchers which can only be purchased through authorized retailer. These outlets provide an opportunity monitor tourism activity and maintain a successful sustainable system.

The income generated from the vouchers assures the preservation of the region’s natural attractions of pristine clear water rivers, caves, underground lakes, forests and waterfalls. The system also verifies that activities within the region are connected to and respectful of the environment. This includes an objective to provide opportunities for local employment through creation of small, locally owned tourism businesses.

Bonito’s local communities have a guiding principles of stakeholder dialogue  with landowners, local businesses and Non-government Organizations. NGOs, such as Serra de Bodoquena Water Institute and Familia Legal, a social project set up to support families, provide an open opportunity to monitor environmental concerns as well as economic and social indicators. Together everyone can see how the tourism income contributes towards improving education, and reducing both poverty and unemployment in the region.

Bonito, is both beautiful as a destination and a business model, which has repeatedly been voted Brazil’s Ecotourism Destination of the year for the last thirteen years.

INFO BOX:

To find out more visit their website Bonito

A flight to Sao Paulo, Brasil from Frankfurt in mid June is listed on www.skyscanner.de for 991 euros return connecting to a flight to M. Rondon Airport (TAM-Linhas Aéreas 120 euros) and transfer into Bonito.

Lodging in the town of Bonito range from 40-170 euros per night, check out deals on www.booking.com