Responsible Tourism - News and Stories

From 26.-30. September 2010 the European Ecotourism Conference will take place in Pärnu, Estonia. The event is headlined "Balancing Sustainability and Profitability". Pleasant note: You don't have to travel to the Baltic to actively participate. The organizers give a strong focus on web 2.0 to allow online participation for an audience worldwide. 

http://www.european-ecotourism.com/

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Three of the leading members of the international Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct organization  - Carlson, Kuoni and Accor - have won sustainability awards for their social responsibility initiatives including child protection and the implementation of the Code.

Online discussion during the week of May 17-21 focusing on responsible tourism around the world on various Web 2.0 channels including Delicious, Facebook, Flickr, Slideshare, Twitter and YouTube.

Join in, share your story! Use the hashtag #rtweek2010

The 4th International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations organised by the International Center for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) will be held in Oman (Muscat) from 10 – 12 October. Four topics are on the agenda:

April 21, on Earth Day eve and just before  Reisepavillon kicks off in Berlin, a Responsible Tourism Networking Meeting will take place organised by respontour, Planeta.com, and The Blue Yonder.

We welcome all Reisepavillon participants and friends of responsible travel to join us.

For some years there has been a recognisable trend towards responsible tourism in Bulgaria. The basis is a Green Lodge certificate introduced two years ago and issued to guesthouses, small hotels and B & Bs that meet the criteria fort he ECEAT (European Centre for Ecological and Agricultural Tourism) label and Eurogites (European Federation of Farm and Village Tourism) criteria for sustainable tourism.

The Code of Conduct for the protection of children from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism:

At the Annual General Meeting held in Berlin on march 13, 2010, a new Board of Directors was formed for the Code international organization.

A conference held 28th and 29th of March 2010 in the West-Bengal town of Shantiniketan ("Abode of Peace") brings together South-Asian stakeholders to discuss Peace through Tourism in historically changed cross-borders. More info (www.helptourism.com/blog)

Thailand - most famous for its hospitality and friendly smiles - has recently launched a sustainable tourism campaign designed to safeguard its natural and cultural attractions. Middle of March the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) signed an agreement with the European Tour Operators Association to support environmental initiatives in the popular tourist destination. With this programme TAT hopes to meet the rising demand among European visitors for sustainable products. Amongst the range of green products are a number of themed routes focussing on different aspects of Thai life, such as arts and crafts, cooking or traditional roles. The plan is to establish a firm contact between European tour operators and Thai suppliers and communities offering sustainable tourism products.

"Good news for the customers: Thanks to sinking kerosene prices and cheap USD-rates many operators were able to reduce their prices for flights and hotels.", German TV-channel rbb reports from ITB 2010. Tobias Jüngert from Meier's Weltreisen presents figures: "4-5% less on an average, but there are outliers as well. Sri Lanka, for example, is in the double digit field, with particular offers 23% under last year's price level." Wouldn't it have been a good idea to at least forward some of the savings to offsetting initiatives? The travel industry does not know how to cope with the paradox situation of addressing climate change on the one hand and keeping an eye on their economics on the other. A new publication examines „The Role of Tour Operators in Climate Change Mitigation“ (pdf). The author Andreas Zotz concludes: "The industry is far from adopting 'real' mitigation strategies."

Web 2.0 has finally reached the industry. Overloaded with 150 people standing the security had to close down the convention hall. None of the audience dared to raise his finger when being asked "Who beliefs that tourism can work without social media in future?"

The French regions of Aquitaine, Auvergne, Limousin, Champagne-Ardenne and Burgundy have linked up with the French Agency for Tourism Development and members of the "Club nature" tour operators association to jointly promote ecotourism and in a wider sense sustainable tourism products. (ag/mb/10.03.2010)

Tourism Industry on Road to Recovery as Demand Increases Across Europe

Vacation demand has stabilized for the 2010 summer season in Germany and in the UK in particular, two of the largest tourism source markets in Europe. The greatest growth has been recorded for vacations in Turkey and Egypt. Additionally, cruises are currently proving popular across Europe. more info:

www.gfkrt.com

Press conference and presentation of the award winning projects from Gambia and Mozambique, and the overall winner: Across the African continent - from coast to coast

Friday, 12th March, 04.00 - 5.00 p.m.
Dachgartenfoyer, ICC

"Zwischenrufe" (interventions): "The (un)critical tourist - Travels between lust and frustration."

What role do ecological topics play for the future of tourism? How can sustainability and relaxed holidays be linked? A panel discussion organised by Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung (Institute for Tourism and Development) and WDR (West German Broadcasting Corporation) supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and ITB Berlin An event of the  series by the Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung (Institute for Tourism and Development) and WDR in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Development and Economic Cooperation. Amongst the participants are Karl Born, Professor for tourism management, and MoP Jürgen Klimke.

Date: 12.03.2010, 11:55 Uhr
Venue: Dachgartenfoyer, ICC Berlin

Continuing the tradition of responsible tourism networking at ITB Berlin 2010. An opportunity to meet practitioners, inspire and be inspired. A unique place to share your initiatives and success stories...join us.

The event is organised in partnership with The Blue Yonder, Green Circuit and Buffalo Tours. As in earlier gatherings, Trip bod (formerly Your Safe Planet) and Respontour.net will be supporting this event.

Date:   
Friday, 12 March 2010
Time:    18:00 - 19:30
Location:    Messe-Berlin, Hall 5.2b 201&202 (The Green Circuit Stand)

11.127 exhibiting companies representing 187 countries are participating in ITB 2010. This year's partnercountry is Turkey. The Central- and Innerasian Countries are exhibiting in a dedicated hall. In more than 100 events over 200 high-profile speakers will discuss trends, innovative strategies and important key-topics at the ITB Convention. Also new: The Social Media Lounge - a meeting and learning space for those being interested in Web 2.0 - More info: www.itb-berlin.de

The New England States in the Northeast of the USA attracts thousands of tourists every year with its picturesque beaches, rocky coastal landscapes, romantic lakes majestic mountains and the colorful forests during fall foliage. To conserve this diversified nature paradise the New England states have developed different ecological and sustainable programs and offer tourists to take actively part in environmental protection. Many accommodation facilities take part in these programs as well and let tourists contribute making their vacation more sustainable. 

Sustainable tourism in cities was one of the topics at the European Cities Marketing (ECM) Spring Meeting taking place in Turku/Finland from February 24 - 27, 2010. Amongst the speakers was Professor Alf Rehn, who presented his vision of a tourism that focuses on environmentally-friendly quality rather than unsustainable quantity.

Coordinated by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) every year on June 5, World Environment Day aims to be the biggest global celebration for positive environmental action with up to 80 countries participating. This year's global host will be Rwanda, "an African nation that, despite big challenges, is seizing the multiple opportunities possible from Green Economic policies", to quote UNEP's Executive Director Achim Steiner. 

Continuing the tradition of responsible tourism networking at ITB Berlin 2010. An opportunity to meet practitioners, inspire and be inspired. A unique place to share your initiatives and success stories...join us.

The event is organised in partnership with The Blue Yonder, Green Circuit and Buffalo Tours. As in earlier gatherings, Trip bod (formerly Your Safe Planet) and Respontour.net will be supporting this event.

Date:   
Friday, 12 March 2010
Time:    18:00 - 19:30
Location:    Messe-Berlin, Hall 5.2b 201&202 (The Green Circuit Stand)

In a new study scientists of the Friedrich Schiller University and the Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena, Germany were able to show empirical a positive influence of sustainable tourism on economic growth. Therefore, it may be a promising development strategy to invest in biodiversity and attract high budget tourists.

Australia's national carrier Qantas recognised Crystal Creek Meadows Luxury Cottages and Spa Retreat in New South Wales and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway in Queensland for their contribution to the Australian tourism industry in naming them joint winners of the Qantas Award for Excellence in Sustainable Tourism.  The winners each received a A$25,000 cash prize. Group Executive/Commercial for Qantas Rob Gurney said these tourism businesses should be commended for their commitment to the environment.

The International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) has signed up as an official supporter of World Green Tourism Abu Dhabi, the first dedicated eco-tourism event in the region. It will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC) from December 6 to 8, 2010 and has Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) as ist headline sponsor.

As one of the first european countries with access to the Mediterranean, Slovenia is focussing on sustainable tourism and the protection of the environment. Nature and its resources are being recognized as the backbone of the touristic product. New investments support this trend.

‚Southeast Asia: feel the warmth’ is the slogan of a new tourism campaign, launched by ten Southeast Asian countries recently. The campaign is acoompanied by the new, interactive website, SoutheastAsia.org, which simultaneously serves as the primary marketing tool.
The new inititative, officially supported by the ten ASEAN tourism ministers at the recent ASEAN Tourism Forum in Brunei, will immediately target tourists in medium and long haul markets such as the UK, Australia, India, North America and Hong Kong. The campaign is focussed to emphasize the warmth of Southeast Asia's hospitality and climate and the diversity of the region's cultural attractions and tourism activities. The ten participating countries are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.