society news
Society news & articles from the tourism industry, including ethical travel initiatives, community tourism, controversial destinations & how tourism affects local cultures.
|
Cape Town takes the lead on Responsible Tourism in Destinations
It was in Cape Town in 2002 that the concept of Responsible Tourism in Destinations was launched at the 1st International Conference held in Cape Town as a side event to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Cape Town Declaration definition of Responsible Tourism is used by the World Travel Market and UNWTO for their World Responsible Tourism Day. Read more about Cape Town taking the lead on Responsible Tourism in Destinations |
Can West Africa play a key part in Responsible Tourism?
According to Tourism Concern there are going to be 1.6 billion international tourists by 2020 and a substantial amount of these will be eco tourists. West Africa unfortunately is not identified as a prospective contributor to this estimation. Tourism has also been identified as the fastest growing industry helping to stimulate the growth of other sectors in various economies with Euromonitor identifing Ecotourism as the growing niche within this industry.
Read more about Can West Africa play a key part in Responsible Tourism? |
Recognising and coping with psychological health issues in volunteer and expeditioners 
InterHealth, in partnership with the Royal Geographical, is running a workshop on the 8th December which is tailored towards supporting gap and expedition organisations in their work with teams. Recognising and coping with psychological health issues in volunteer and expeditioners – Tuesday 8th December 2009. Read more on Recognising and coping with psychological health issues in volunteer and expeditioners workshop |
Tourism Concern needs your help!
Tourism Concern, the charity that has looked to ensure that ‘tourism benefits the local people’ all over the world for the past 20 years has been hit by the global downturn. Tourism Concern has also diligently employed various efforts to ‘change the way that tourism is traded and developed’ but yet finds itself in need of £40,000 due to lack of funding. Read more on Tourism Concern needs your help! |
Back to Burma?'
Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD), has changed her stance on tourism in Burma and has encouraged foreign visitors for the first time.
She believes the tourist industry can help to highlight the oppression of her people in the media which could prove a useful tool in bringing about change to the region. However, this is providing the industry is run through private organisations and is not government led. . Read more about going Back to Burma? |
Honeymooning at home - the rise of the 'staycation-moon'
With the summer wedding season well underway, responsibletravel.com, the world's leading travel agent for responsible holidays reports an impressive 41% year on year increase in the number of customers enquiring about honeymoons in the UK, and a staggering 448% increase since 2007* . Read more about Honeymooning at home and the rise of the 'staycation-moon' |
Responsible Travel News Blog reaches the finals of Tripbase.com Awards!
After careful consideration, Responsible Travel News Blog won an award for providing one of the best Eco Travel-related blogs. It emerged as a finalist for this category.
Katie Sorene of Tripbase.com said: "We feel your blog is an excellent example of what a blog should be and trust that you feel proud in this respect. Read more about Responsible Travel News Blog reaching the finals of Tripbase.com Awards! |
Is water the new oil?
 Could water shortages be the cause of the next major international conflict? With around 1.8 billion people estimated to be living in water scarcity by 2025, water charity Just A Drop is posing just this question. Some of the world's most established and emerging economies- including parts of America, China, the Middle East and India - are already suffering chronic water shortages. Read more on is water the new oil? |
Help right tourism wrongs in Kenya
 The Endorois are indigenous pastoralists, people who earn their livelihood through the rearing of livestock.They were evicted from their ancestral lands to make way for the Reserve, depriving them not only of prime pasture for cattle and goats during the harsh dry season but also of sites important for cultural activities such as initiation ceremonies. Minority Rights Group’s Trouble in paradise campaign is aimed at helping the Endorois get redress for the loss of their lands. Read more about Helping to right the tourism wrongs in Kenya |
Dominica International Ecofest 2009
 The International EcoFest to be held at Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge, Dominica, between May 1st and 8th 2009.The event is being held in collaboration with/the participation of The EcoClub, The International ecotourism Society, The Sustainable Living Initiative Centre, (SLIC) Dominica, Responsible Travel, and Eco-Tropical resorts, the Biogas helpline, as well as the Environmental Coordinating Unit of The Government of Dominica, and others.
Read more on the Dominica international ecofest 2009 |
Madagascar at a crossroads
 Madagascar needs to decide how it wants to position itself as a tourist destination versus its more famous East African neighbours. The choice is simple, to cater to its traditional market of mostly French visitors who enjoy it as a good value beach resort and biodiversity 'hotspot' with extraodinary endemic wildlife (most famously lemurs and chameleons), or to reach out to wider UK and US markets with new tourism products. Read more on about Madagascar at a crossroads |
Responsible Tourism high on the agenda at the Youth Tourism Awards
 This week’s British Youth Travel Award for ‘Green Tourism’ went to the much delighted responsible tour operator G.A.P. Adventures. The award was designed to honour businesses, striving for a maximized positive effect on the localities in which they operate. Participants either qualified through actual innovations in the field or evident improvements since the previous year. Read more on the Responsible tourism high on the agenda at the Youth Tourism Awards |
Tsunami & displacement: the second wave
 Tsunami affected communities in Tamil Nadu and Kerala are facing a second wave of displacement due to aggressive land acquisitions for tourism developments around the southern Indian coast.
The states have been earmarked by the Indian government as major emerging tourism destinations and investment is being actively promoted.Read more about Tsunami and displacement |
Sustainable tourism high on Hanoi's agenda
Sustainable tourism was the theme of the Asia-Europe Meeting's (ASEM) tourism forum held this September. Established in 1997 the ASEM aims to address political, economical and cultural issues and strengthen relations between the two regions.
Read more on the sustainable tourism meeting in Hanoi
|
Global sustainability centers: the 20 cities of 2020
Twenty cities have been named as the most likely to be Global Sustainability Centers by the year 2020. The list of selected cities, which was produced by think tank the Ethisphere Institute consists of 10 large cities (with populations of more than 600,000) and 10 mid-sized cities (with populations less than 600,000). Cities were considered for their environmental and sustainability practices.
Read more on the global sustainability centers of 2020
|
Ethical travel destinations
The developing world's 10 best ethical destinations for 2008. During the past few years, the term "ethical travel" has entered the globe-trotter's lexicon. Ethical travel is simply mindful travel: an awareness of our impact as we explore the world. Travel is now the biggest industry on Earth but which countries should we visit? Where do we spend our money once we get there?
Read more on ethical travel destinations
|
China Olympic travel dilemma
The Olympics may have focused attention on China, but it's hardly the first destination to present travellers with this sticky dilemma: Go, and possibly support a repressive regime with tourist dollars, or stay away, and deprive the locals of contact with the outside world. Take Myanmar, for decades the poster child for ruthless dictatorships that welcome tourism.
Read more on the China Olympic travel dilemma
|
Guilt-free relaxation
For years, the sun, sand and faux fried breakfasts of the Mediterranean was virtually the only option for the annual pack tour pilgrimage. But for an increasing number of travellers, it is the last way they want to spend their down time. There's a growing desire amongst modern Britons for adventure, for learning and for experiences. "We use local guides to tell the travellers about the wildlife, the country, their own lifestyle and culture".
Read more on guilt-free relaxation
|
Tourism in Laos
It was with great sadness that I read about the disappearance of Sompawn Khantisouk who was on his way to an appointment with Laos police in January. Sompawn (Pawn) is one of the founders of The Boat Landing Guesthouse in Laos and has been fundamental in driving the ecotourism movement forward in Laos.
Read more on tourism in Laos
|
Tourism to Burma
There is only one country that responsibletravel.com has a policy of not marketing as a tourism destination and that is Burma. We market holidays to many countries with poor human rights records and so you might ask why we make a special case of Burma? It's a very tough decision to make but I believe in 4 arguments that are more important than the fact that is is possible to travel to Burma, and do so in a way which would provide an income for local people.
Read more on tourism to Burma
|
Supporting local businesses
We at responsibletravel.com feel that responsible tourism really does make a difference – travellers booking responsible holidays are supporting local businesses as well as helping local communities and minimising impact on the environment. We've asked some of our operators what responsibletravel.com membership has meant to their business.
Read more on supporting local businesses
|
