NEW YORK -- Can tourism be a force for good?

A new effort to increase tourism in Africa and a tour operator committed to supporting the environment would like to think so.

The International Council of Tourism Partners is pledging to help promote tourism in Africa as a way to alleviate the continent's poverty.

A report from the tourism organization's Africa Commission points out that Africa is blessed with incredible wildlife, culture, tradition and scenery -- all necessary ingredients to create a booming tourism industry. Now what is needed is the infrastructure of hotels and other services, along with marketing.

"It is everyone's responsibility to press for the infrastructure and support service to make Africa the tourism destination of choice, bringing with it the foreign exchange and investment needed in the war on poverty," said ICTP President Geoffrey Lipman. Less than 4 percent of international tourism is in Africa, and less than 2 percent of international tourism revenue is earned here.

For further information, visit www.tourismpartners.org or the African Travel and Tourism Association at www.atta.co.uk/.

Closer to home, Florida-based Terra Incognita Ecotours is partnering with a conservation partner in every locality it visits. Each person taking the tour makes a monetary donation to the partner. The donation is not voluntary; it's built into the tour cost.

Each tour will include a visit from a representative of the partnering organization to explain their work.

In Costa Rica, Terra Incognita is partnering with the Fundacion Conservacionista Costarricense (Costa Rican Conservation Foundation), which is purchasing land to protect the habitat of endangered species. In Belize, support is provided to the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center and their efforts to reintroduce the Harpy eagle to Belize. In Rwanda and Uganda, the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project is working to ensure the health of the endangered mountain gorillas. For more information, visit www.terra-incognita-ecotours.com.