Selected Projects

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A sample of TDI"s most recent projects includes the following, please contact us for more information or past performance details.

THE AMERICA’S & CARIBBEAN

NORTH AMERICA (US & MEXICO)

Americas Lodging Investment Summit - Los Angeles, California – Developed and coordinated the international portion of the conference and assisted in recruiting international sponsors and participants. Conference attended by more than 1,400 senior executives from the U.S. and the international hospitality industry.

Monarch Butterfly Nature Reserve, Ministry of Tourism of Michoacan, Mexico – Provided advice and assistance to the government of Michoacan in their efforts to promote sustainable development of the Monarch Butterfly Natural Reserve.  Successfully identified and negotiated with an investor/developer to invest in and manage the Reserve and interpretation center.

Mexican Tourism Investment Exchange, FONATUR, Government of Mexico  – Developed the program, recruited international speakers and participants, and coordinated international marketing and promotion for the Mexican Fund for Tourism Development (FONATUR) annual conference.  Attended by more than 500 participants from Mexico, the U.S. and Europe.

CENTRAL AMERICA

Ecotourism Strategy, Soberania National Park, Panama

Funded by USAID, the work consisted in assessing the ecotourism potential of a national park, which is to be linked with other two major attractions in Panama City. The goal is to develop a tourism cluster, using the value chain approach, to serve as model for protected area management. The team designed a pilot project to test an ecotourism management proposal. This project was done for the Academy for Educational Development (AED).

Community-Based Tourism Strategy for Piedras Negras, El Peru and Mirador, Guatemala  – Conducted an assessment of the supply, demand (close to 400 interviews to tourists and tour operators in Guatemala, Belize and the US) and local organizations (mainly Community Cooperatives and local Tourism Committees) in these three archaeological sites and the four communities surrounding the sites (Bethel, La Tecnica, Paso Caballos and Carmelita) for Counterpart International. The project is being funded by USAID Guatemala and the objective is to assess the tourism potential in these communities and sites, as an alternative for economic development.

Mundo Maya Organization, Public Relations Strategy in the US, Washington, DC – Conducted a public relations strategy to strengthen the Mundo Maya Organization presence and relationships with international NGOs in Washington, DC. Ministries of Tourism from Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico represent the Mundo Maya Organization and the Organization of American States financed this project. 

Mundo Maya Organization, International Positioning and Investment Promotion – Funded by the Inter-American Development Bank, this project included institutional assessment, a strategic plan to revise the organization’s mission, vision and activities. Conducted promotional activities to position the organization in the US and encourage donor agencies and conservation organizations to invest in the region.  The strategy is now being implemented and includes the formation of a strategic alliance with Conservation International, Counterpart International, National Geographic and UNESCO, to provide technical and fundraising assistance to execute a $150 million sustainable tourism program over 5 years. 

SOUTH AMERICA

Marketing Plan, Old Providence and Santa Catalina, Colombia  – Conducted an assessment of the supply, demand and local organizations to put together a Marketing Plan for ECOASTUR, the local tourism association.  Conservation International is financing this project and the objective is to reposition Old Providence in specific markets and segments to increases the tourism flow to the island from environmentally friendly markets.

Exchange of Best Practices for Destination Management between Coroico, Bolivia and Antigua, Guatemala

Funded by USAID and managed by Chemonics International in Bolivia had to aim to provide productive alternatives to eradicate coca production. The tourism committee of Corioco including 25 stakeholders traveled to Antigua to meet with the municipalities, the private sector and the civil society to learn how they have managed tourism growth, partnerships and historical conservation with success.

CARIBBEAN

Backward Linkages in the OECS Countries – This assignment in being conducted by FIAS (investment climate unit of the IFC) to identify opportunities, barriers, policy, and past experiences in relation to inputs required in the tourism industry from other sectors like agriculture, wood, furnishings, and other. This is being conducted in six of the Organization of Eastern States countries. Based on the results of this study FIAS will determine implementation of concrete actions to build business to business commercial relations in the form of backward linkages in tourism.

Ecotourism Strategy and Investment Promotion, Great and Little Inagua Islands, Bahamas  - Funded by the Inter American Development Bank, this project used the rapid assessment tool (RAT) designed by Conservation International and The George Washington University to evaluate the ecotourism potential of the island and develop recommendations for strategic actions for sustainable development.

Strategic Planning, St. Kitts and Nevis  – Funded by the Organization of American States (OAS), completed the development of a Five-Year Strategic Plan for Tourism Development.  The approach used was Applied Strategic Planning, which seeks to develop strategies based upon extensive input from a variety of economic sectors and segments of society.   Work included detailed interviews with more than 100 stakeholders; an Industry Retreat, aimed at defining a common vision for the future development of the industry and critical issues and success indicators for achieving it; a detailed market analysis, including exit interviews at the country’s airports and detailed recommendations for marketing strategies and market positioning.  The five principal areas of focus, as identified by stakeholders and TDI research where: Marketing and Promotion; Product Development; Access and Infrastructure; Training, Education and Awareness; and Environment.  TDI consultants also conducted extensive research into “Best Practices,” funding mechanisms, and technical assistance required for implementation.

ASIA

GREATER MEKONG

Wildlife Tourism Strategy for the South Cardamom Mountains Cambodia.

Funded by Wild Aid, this project assess the potential for ecotourism development in the South West Elephant Corridor (SWEC) in the Cardamoms  as a strategy for wildlife conservation, alternative livelihood for the communities, as well as a source of additional revenues for the local and national government.

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Bidding Evaluation Process for the Ministry of Tourism of Maldives

This project was funded directly by the MTM and consisted in evaluating 206 bidding proposals that hotel developers presented for a 10-year lease of 11 islands.  TDI put together a highly experienced team of six experts on different aspects of hotel development who evaluated the proposals including: human resource development, environment management, business plan feasibility, legal, and built environment.