EVERY TRIP PURCHASE MAKES A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE
Definitive LIST of how GER to GER ACTIVELY FULFILLS the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Today’s major issue in Mongolia are irresponsible tour operators/competitors unethically profiteering/gaining from the ‘responsible tourism’ brand by sabotaging Responsible Tour Operators’ markets via disruptors, trolls, scammers, etc., via exploitation reviews/fake reviews to damage the alternative incomes of nomadic families and lessen the lack of market distinction between responsible and irresponsible as everyone claims to be ‘responsible’. Hence, GERtoGER is actively using UN SDGs to clearly highlight and define “the Successes” of our ‘Responsible Tourism’ methodologies and thoroughly distinguish ourselves methodologically from those that desire to use our image (positively and/or negatively) to unethically take incomes away from Mongolia’s nomadic families’ “Live Like a Local” Experiences:
- SDG 1 – NO POVERTY: 80% of Humanitarian Trips’ finances (“Live Like a Local Experiences”) are returned to rural nomads, drivers, etc.; 20% towards rural communities’ marketing and workshops.
- SDG 2 – ZERO HUNGER: We have/continue to employ nomadic families who are the poorest of the poor.
- SDG 3 – GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: trainings on health/safety/reduce sanitation illnesses (Hepatitis A, etc.); incomes for medical insurance, visits, medication, surgeries, etc.
- SDG 4 – QUALITY EDUCATION: Via workshops/incomes nomadic adults/children are receiving education via workshops (locals/internationals), schools, high schools and universities.
- SDG 5 – GENDER EQUALITY: Over 70% of our national managers are women; rurally, women care for travelers’ family experience (food, drink, etc.) while men generally guide (though some women guide).
- SDG 6 – CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION: (TRAINING/OPERATIONS) 1) nomads/travelers – “Leave No Trace” 2) waste management to mitigate watershed damages along routes, etc.
- SDG 7 – AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY: assisted all nomadic families to obtain savings accounts across Mongolia – credit histories used for financial services/small-loans to procure solar/wind powered units.
- SDG 8 – DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: Social economic development via tourism while combatting negative aspects of open market growth. Over 90% of HR are rural; via “Geotourism” we strengthen rural supply chains.
- SDG 9 – INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE: “GER to GER” is the Mongol Empire’s ancient “kinetic supply chain” – today this ancient supply chain advances Mongolia’s social economic aspirations.
- SDG 10 – REDUCE INEQUALITIES: In addition to financial equality, SDG initiatives in Mongolia and abroad – for the last 6+ years we’ve been tracking, mapping, countering, etc., a variety of “inequalities” from Asia to EU to mitigate home-grown issues across multiple countries/internet-platforms.
- SDG 11 – SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES: GERtoGER meshes “kinetic” and “static” supply chains into itineraries, products, etc., towards advancing social economic development. GERtoGER’s founder has spent 23+ years assisting Mongolia through its post-Soviet transitional development (tourism, meat, cashmere) – first USAID funded “The Competitiveness Initiative”.
- SDG 12 – RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION: 1) travelers are trained on “subsistence nomadic lifestyles, traditions, history, etc.” 2) nomadic tribes are provided with cashmere-alternatives owing to overgrazing issues (sharp increase in goat numbers); sustainable eco-incomes vs. land degradation incomes that impacts nomadism, livestock, GDPs, nature/environment.
- SDG 13 – CLIMATE ACTION: We have conducted Nomad Relief Efforts during climatic disasters; films, media pieces, awareness campaigns, etc. 2) We established networks ‘that can’ monitor trends (goats, desertification, watershed situations, weather impacts on land degradation, etc.)
- SDG 14 – LIFE BELOW WATER: Via workshops all herder/travelers are trained about the importance of water resources in relation to mitigating waste related issues, etc. Though Mongolia may not have oceans – the quality of Mongolia’s watersheds are vital to nomadic populations throughout the country. Mr. Fromer (www.Zanjan-Fromer.com) assisted USAID Gobi Initiative’s “Watershed Monitoring” program works as the quality of the watersheds directly impacts Mongolia’s GDPs (cashmere, meat, tourism) as nomadic families are the core “node” of all three industries.
- SDG 15 – LIFE ON LAND: Via workshops herders/travelers are trained about the importance of land resources in relation to mitigating waste related issues, watershed impacts on land quality, weather/climatic degradation of land, etc., in addition to serious issues pertaining to overgrazing, etc., GER to GER has established nomadic networks ‘that can’ monitor such remote concerns (GDP concerns).
- SDG 16 – PEACE, JUSTICE, AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS: We promote the UN’s UDHRs within Mongolia, social media, etc. Mr. Fromer encourages all countries to “maintain the peace” via making the general public aware of social-issues (extremists, oppression OPS, racial hate CRIMES, etc.) that may indeed hinder social economic development.
- SDG 17 – PARTNERSHIP FOR THE GOALS: Via social media networks (Facebooking, Twitter, etc.), partners, donors, etc., we proactively expand our initiatives.
- “Responsible-Tours.org” established by GER to GER and the Founder, this new Initiative is being launched by “The Global Practitioners” to assist International CBTs, CSR Initiatives, alternative community travel networks and Geotourism Initiatives
- “LastLifeLine.org” under the GERtoGER Foundation this new Initiative aims to match Global Issues of the aforementioned “MDGs/SDGs” that require exposure to better link with like-minded organizations.
Responsible Travel Notes:
* All Humanitarian Trips and Homestays are 100% “Reality Trips” that are managed and operated by locals and nomadic families; GER to GER Office operates ONLY AS A Humanitarian “Travel Agent” for communities (non-tour operator).
* GER to GER humanitarian trips is about “Reality” – real families, real lifestyles, real situation, etc. (who are the Mongols? And not about our expectations).
* GER to GER humanitarian trips are not an amusement park experience – it’s about awareness/respecting nomadic lifestyle and learning “their ways” (not ours), etc.
* GER to GER is an opportunity for people to learn how to integrate within other cultures vs. other cultures catering to our international norms and standards that we have become overly accustomed too and demand others to adhere too (like paid entertainment slaves).
* GER to GER has generated over a Million USD towards Mongolia’s social economic development via supply-chain synergies and provides over 80% of its revenues toward rural nomadic families that greatly need this alternative income source.
GER to GER is 100% COMMITTED
(United Nations Sustainable Development Goals)
To Social Economic Development
Ger to Ger’s multi-prong approach (human, social economics, environment) towards development ensures rural community mobilization, non-exploitation, gender empowerment, innovation, and more. Today, GER to GER’s Humanitarian Trips (Live Like a Local) are 100% managed, led, operated and outsourced by rural inhabitants:
- Nomadic families (human resource, cultural resource, horses, camels, livestock, etc.)
- Rural community human resources (drivers, guides, facilitators, etc.)
- Rural accommodations
- Food and drink (rural shops, hotels, nomadic families, etc.)
- Rural transportation (buses, jeeps, cars, etc.)
To Protecting the Environment
(Climate Change)
Before this initiative began in June 2005, great consideration towards environmental conservation had been taken and incorporated into its daily operational design. By incorporating public transportation, limiting rural vehicle usage, and mainly relying on nomadic forms of transportation between nomadic families over wide geographic ranges and etc., greatly reduces our carbon footprint.
- 100% of GER to GER’s Humanitarian Trips have incorporated both public transportation and rural vehicle-pooling.
- 99% of GER to GER’s Humanitarian Trips use rural village vehicles for drop off/pick up from points on a travel route; 1 or 2 exceptions.
- Over 99% of traveling time from Ger to Ger – locals incorporate environmentally friendly travel practices such as walking, trekking, horses, ox carts, etc.
- Over 95% of Ger to Ger’s nomadic families use either fallen wood and/or animal dung for heating their Yurt and making food.
- Over 99% of all Ger to Ger’s nomadic families that have access to electricity generate it via solar panel or wind instead of fuel burning generators.
KNOW WHAT GOES INTO A PRICE
what will $100 US Dollars buy you in Mongolia and how will it benefit the locals?
Case Study Parameters: ONLY 1 Person with ONLY $100 USD
Note: This “approximation” comparison chart of what you could buy with only $100 USD is being provided to show the reality of travel in Mongolia and abroad (prices may vary up/down depending on additional factors). Whereas cheap hostels/operators can provide you with transport, guide and some fuel – they are not able to extend their services to include food/drinks, accommodations, nomadic visitations, cultural experiences, etc., into their budgets; hence, they have to pack you and many others into 1 vehicle in order to taxi you around the country without quality cultural experiences, food, accommodations, etc., when price is set at $100. Berlin/EU offer is just a little better as they can accommodate you for 1 day with some food… HOWEVER, GER to GER’s offers is INDEED the best offer as it includes everything (food, drinks, guides, culture, etc.) not for 1 day but for 2 days along a nearby “Live Like a Local” program (nomadic Geotourism/Humanitarian Works – not GER to GER’s fully packaged trips).
LEVEL OF EFFORT (LOE) MADE TOWARDS LOCALS
No local benefits from $100
15+ years of benefiting locals with up to 80% of Trips’ Costs
No local benefits from $100
Minimal local benefits from $100
Expectations, Reality and Getting the Most from your Mongolia Travels
Written by Mr. Zanjan Fromer of GERtoGER.org Mongolia – NATGEO Geotourism Ambassador
Here’s my humble opinion based upon 24+ years of living and working among Mongols across Mongolia.
1. Traveling with Nomadic Families via Community Based Tourism “Living Like a Local” (GER to GER’s Humanitarian Works)
2. Traveling Mongolia via Packaged Trips (Tour Operations)
Conclusions
SEE WHAT “INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS” HAVE EXPERIENCED AND WRITTEN SINCE 2005 ONWARDS
GO LOCAL,
GIVE LOCAL
“A truly Mongolian experience”
– Trip Advisor Review
“If you want to get an idea of what traditional life in Mongolia is like while also staying off the beaten track, this is the place to book a tour. I did a three day tour in the Middle Gobi region and a 6-day tour in Bulgan Province. I stayed in Mongolia near the end of april, which is a good time temperature-wise. Both tours greatly exceeded my expectations, as did the service provided by GerToGer…”
“…I thoroughly enjoyed staying with these people and want to thank GerToGer. These tours were the best combination of feeling safe (knowing you can always call them in case of emergency) and experiencing something real and unique. Definitely a highlight of my travels, you can’t miss this if you are visiting Mongolia!”