The global tourism sector has bounced back vigorously with the UNWTO anticipating the sector’s full recovery by the end of 2024 as remaining pent-up demand is unleashed. While this is ... Read more
By Gustavo Pinto The rules for visiting Machu Picchu changed in 2019. One of the top cultural destinations in the whole of Latin America (which in 2018 received more than ... Read more
There is more coverage of the issue of overtourism in the mainstream press than in the trade press. Understandably destination marketers and many governments dislike the word “overtourism” being associated ... Read more
The opening session of World Travel Market’s 2018 Responsible Tourism Programme focussed on ‘Business Taking Responsibility for Security, Health and Safety’. Simon King, Founder of the South Africa-based organisation Park ... Read more
Few people can have missed this week’s pictures of a flooded Venice, and the video of the pizza restaurant that channeled the Titanic’s violinists and kept serving pizzas with the ... Read more
Last week Bhutan held only its third general election. And for the third time in a row, the Bhutanese people voted in a different party. And though this election got ... Read more
The digital economy is top of the agenda on the Global Stage at WTM London – the event where ideas arrive – in a packed three-day programme that will also ... Read more
While there is little discussion of overtourism in the travel trade press and many destinations are in denial, the issue is hot in the national and local press. The issue ... Read more
Tourism is about connections. Connecting to another place. Connecting with friends and family. Connecting to nature. It follows, therefore, that the better the connection, the more one connects, the richer ... Read more
The overtourism issue has a great deal in common with the issue of climate change. We’ve known for a long time that the problem of overcrowding exists and that no ... Read more
Yesterday activist travel company Responsible Travel launched Crowded Out, a documentary about the growth of overtourism which is a consequence of exponential growth in travel and tourism bumping up against ... Read more
The UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit will debate the so-called ‘overtourism’ at WTM London on Tuesday 7 November 2017. The so called ‘Overtourism’ has become a hot topic in the ... Read more
World Travel Market London has announced that the two key responsible tourism themes this November will be what the travel industry should do about the emerging phenomenon of Overtourism; and ... Read more
How does a small archipelago cope with becoming Britain’s most successful cruise destination? In 2011 there were 36,000 cruise passengers, last year there were close to 100,000, projected to hit ... Read more
A new challenge and a new word: “overtourism.” First used on twitter as #overtourism back in August 2012 it’s likely to become commonplace over the next few years. Its meaning ... Read more
Sustainability and specialist travel topped the agenda for the final day of WTM London 23, with a well-known TV documentary maker wowing the audience with a keynote to round off ... Read more
Day two of World Travel Market London 2023 – the world’s most influential travel and tourism event – saw key topics discussed including diversity and inclusion, the future of travel ... Read more
Research from World Travel Market London 2023, the world’s most influential travel & tourism event, has revealed that more holidaymakers are abandoning their sun loungers in favour of nature, foodie ... Read more
The organisers of WTM London 2023 – the world’s most influential travel & tourism event – are celebrating World Tourism Day by shining a spotlight on sustainability in the sector. ... Read more
By Tom Mcloughlin, Founder, SEO Travel There’s been a significant increase in interest in sustainable travel in the past few years. As protecting our planet becomes an increasing priority, many ... Read more
Sustainability was the key theme for the first day of World Travel Market London, as travel experts, ministers, destinations, tourism firms and airlines gathered in the ExCeL exhibition centre. Other ... Read more
Travel companies can “close the intention-action gap” by building easily bookable slow travel product says a pioneer in the field. Flight-free tour operator and B Corp Byway, launched during the ... Read more
Early opening, VFR links and events have been the strong factors in driving travel’s recovery during 2022, a market intelligence specialist told delegates at World Travel Market London. “It’s the ... Read more
The head of the United Nations World Tourism Organization has warned that the “climate emergency is a bigger threat than Covid”. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UNWTO, said the pandemic has ... Read more
By Frank Marr (from AM+AMarketing and Media Relations) PR and marketing professionals have started to plan for the future. After two years of continuous challenges, plenty has been learnt and ... Read more
WTM London this year opens on the same day as COP26 in Glasgow. Given the mounting crisis of climate change and the challenge of adapting to it, it is no ... Read more
Over the last twenty years, many tourism businesses and destinations have developed proven solutions to the issues which arise from tourism. This Solutions Platform provides many examples of reducing negative ... Read more
The answer is yes and no. Yes, because as I have written about here before, the market research demonstrates that increasing numbers of travellers, from all source markets, are looking ... Read more
The Responsible Tourism movement is broad, it encompasses all those who are actively making tourism more sustainable. The taking of responsibility is demonstrated by action. It is about making better ... Read more
It is not just the green environmental agenda. There is a host of ways in which technology can assist us in reducing our sector’s use of resources and greenhouse gas ... Read more
At the end of 2019, the group travel sector was flourishing. The formula was a winning one – provide travellers with the chance to meet likeminded people while experiencing new ... Read more
We can’t keep reinventing the wheel, operating in silos, or treating efforts to act more sustainably as a marketing differentiator. We’re all in this together, and we either all succeed, ... Read more
Representatives from all sectors of travel and tourism took part in a virtual tourism investment summit to discuss ways to boost business recovery and restore traveller confidence. Organised by International ... Read more
The swift actions of the Greek government to deal with the Covid-19 crisis has helped the country’s tourism industry to remain resilient and prepare to bounce back in 2021. Greece’s ... Read more
Despite World Responsible Tourism Day being by necessity virtual in 2020, its speakers ensured it focussed on the key issues of our time for tourism, with the recurring themes throughout ... Read more
As we imagine our new place in the world, how might such trends change the world? How should they influence our planning? Are we trying to build back to levels ... Read more
Industry experts shared technological innovations and their learnings from the COVID-19 crisis at the first Travel Forward ONLINE Conference, the leading travel technology event, co-located with WTM London. Richard Gayle, ... Read more
The global pandemic has revealed how important tourism is to so many developed and developing countries. COVID-19 has had very different impacts on guests and hosts.
For our industry, where much of the conversation of the last few years in tourism has focussed on the issue of over-tourism, this question is especially pertinent. What comes next?
Travel bans imposed across the globe, hundreds of thousands of flight cancellations, thousands of cancelled cruise voyages and port closures have led to a sharp drop in tourism demand.
Recent tourism initiatives and campaigns give me hope that the industry’s recovery can be marked by the same generosity and resilience that has been shown through the early stages of ... Read more
I reckon the sustainability of tourism has been in the headlines more in 2019 than ever before. So for my final blog of the year, I have gathered 55 of ... Read more
Most people I know suffer from imposter syndrome. Most of us believe that any second now, we’ll be found out as frauds, hypocrites, or simply as completely out of our ... Read more
Influencers’ lack of originality and authenticity on Instagram can contribute to both overtourism and unrealistic expectations, delegates heard at WTM London – the event where ideas arrive. “Instagram does tend ... Read more
Ever since these awards were first held back at WTM London in 2004 their purpose has been the same – to encourage change in the industry, to single out for ... Read more
WTM London is the largest Responsible Tourism event in the world. We focus on the solutions with a programme designed to help businesses and destinations thrive in increasingly difficult circumstances ... Read more
This year at WTM London, we are addressing some of the major sustainability challenges and asking who can do what about them. We need businesses and destination governments to step ... Read more
The WTM World Responsible Tourism Gold and Silver Award finalists have been announced for 2019. After an extensive process, the panel of expert judges have decided on 14 global businesses, ... Read more
There are still places where locals are surprised to see tourists, although there are fewer each year. And of course, many businesses are pleased to see them arrive, but there ... Read more
The Archers will be familiar to many UK readers of this post. It a radio soap with over 5 million listeners and a further million listening online. Launched in 1951 ... Read more
As the sector bumps up against the limits to growth in a finite world, we need to focus on solutions. From global warming to overtourism, from flooding and potable water ... Read more
It is official. Yesterday the 34-member Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) determined that we have now entered, in geological terms, the Anthropocene: the Age of Man. The group is still to ... Read more
Last Friday, the Guardian newspaper announced that it was updating its style guide “to introduce terms that more accurately describe the environmental crises facing the world.” The paper’s editor Katherine ... Read more
Just yesterday we heard that Victor Vescovo had descended some 11km to the deepest place in the ocean, the deepest dive ever. He discovered new species of prawn-like crustaceans and ... Read more
I wanted to write about May Day. I wanted to write about working less and remaking our connection to the earth. I really didn’t want to write about climate change. ... Read more
Last week the UK’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, Michael Gove, admitted that “we have not done nearly enough” on man-made climate change. Gove went on, “Suddenly in the ... Read more
This Monday – April 22, is Earth Day. It’s the 49th anniversary of the event, first celebrated in 1970. And this year, the theme is “Protect our Species”. What should ... Read more
The strikes by school children demanding government action in climate change are growing, reflecting the next generation’s concern about the impact on their future, as they become voters expect to ... Read more
“Hamstrung by the idea that any mention of eco-problems would make audiences switch off, and the broadcasters’ preferred strategy of hoping that sharing incredible sights around the world would inspire ... Read more
Beware of Greenwash – Why Awards Matter. The World Responsible Tourism Awards open today for nominations. The judges can only choose from amongst those that apply. So, if you know ... Read more
Some good news for a change. Two high profile marketing campaigns, for two very different destinations, show the time is increasingly right for stories about sustainability to inspire. For a ... Read more
In a crowded market place it’s important to stand out from the crowd. WTM’s World Responsible Tourism Awards enable you to do just that. In a market place where increasing ... Read more
A wave of climate protest is sweeping the planet, and those of us working in tourism would do well to reflect quickly on how it will impact our industry, and ... Read more
By Francesca Benati, Amadeus Senior VP Online Travel Channels, Western Europe, Middle East and Africa Planes, Trains and Automobiles. That’s not just the title of the 1987 comedy starring mismatched ... Read more
In the Responsible Tourism Awards each year we see many examples of businesses which have made real efforts to benefit local communities by sourcing goods and services in the local ... Read more
I was privileged to spend last week in India, first in Kerala and then in Delhi, for the 4th India Responsible Tourism Awards – one of the family of awards ... Read more
While it is always risky to make public predictions, I think this year we will see a lot more discussion about aviation and climate change. The reason I say this ... Read more
Catch up on the Responsible Tourism sessions from WTM London right here… 1. Business Taking Responsibility for Security, Health and Safety At the heart of the responsibility agenda is taking ... Read more
Few people see Black Friday as a day for reflection. Along with its online sibling – Cyber Monday – It’s the apotheosis of consumption – a no-holds-barred scramble to ‘get ... Read more
The Responsible Tourism programme of talks, presentations, discussions and interviews held across all four WTM shows reflects the broad agenda of Responsible Tourism. At WTM London last week there were ... Read more
One Overall Winner, Eight Golds and Six Silvers have been awarded in this year’s World Responsible Tourism Awards, presented on Wednesday November 7th at WTM London. Recipients range from a ... Read more
Keynote Speech from Derek Hanekom, Minister for Tourism, South Africa The third day of World Travel Market 2018 opened on a note of optimism. “WTM is such a celebration and ... Read more
Organised by WTM London To become a Finalist in the World Responsible Tourism Awards is a significant achievement, it marks you out as a leader in Responsible Tourism; it carries ... Read more
Private sector entrepreneurs who invest millions in travel have asked tourism ministers at WTM London – the event where ideas arrive – to cut red tape and help them support ... Read more
Wildlife: animal welfare and conservation 60% of the 3.6-6 million wildlife tourists a year pay for activities with negative animal welfare and/or negative conservation impacts. This was the sobering statistic ... Read more
The wellness tourism sector is predicted to continue growing at a faster rate than the general tourism industry, as more travellers focus on their health, fitness and well-being, according to ... Read more
Popular European cities are wooing more upmarket, niche and cultured travellers – and fewer mass-market tourists, according to the new report “Megatrends Shaping the Future of Travel” from global market ... Read more
UK holidaymakers are demanding the British Government introduces a tourism levy for overseas visitors to the country as they are fed up with having to pay such taxes when travelling ... Read more
Every year many of the world’s leaders in Responsible Tourism gather at WTM London and participate in the Responsible Tourism programme which forms a major part of the show, culminating ... Read more
Attendees at this year’s WTM London – the event where ideas arrive – will hear food tourism experts explain how destinations around the globe can benefit from the current interest ... Read more
Tomorrow is Global Ethics Day, inspired by Earth Day and established by the Carnegie Council. It is an opportunity to explore the meaning of ethics in international affairs. Much of ... Read more
The 18 finalists for the 2018 WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards have been announced, covering everything from multinational travel companies, destinations and NGOs, to a single homestay. They come from ... Read more
It is portrayed as a tropical paradise in holiday brochures and is the Philippines’ top tourism hotspot, but Boracay hit the news for all the wrong reasons earlier this year. ... Read more
The First Lady of Iceland, two top easyJet bosses, TUI Group executives and South Africa’s Tourism Minister are among those appearing at the Europe Inspiration Zone at WTM London, the ... Read more
How can we better understand the growing economic, societal and environmental impacts of technology and innovation in tourism? That’s the question posed by the UNWTO on its website to promote ... Read more
Most of the focus on overtourism has been on cities, but it is also a challenge in rural areas. I am writing this at RTD14 which is looking at the ... Read more
Jost Krippendorf is the father of Responsible Tourism. In his seminal work on Holiday Makers, published in 1987, he foresaw the growth of the new form of tourism which had ... Read more
So this is how it begins. I was three years old in the UK’s last long hot summer. Too young to remember it directly, instead the parched earth photographs define ... Read more
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the progress TUI is making in implementing their 2015-2020 Better Holidays, Better World strategy. They have understood that, to make real progress ... Read more
A couple of weeks ago the Swedish burger chain MAX Burgers announced that all its burgers are now climate positive. From June 14, 2018, any meal eaten at any one ... Read more
Now in their 15th year, the tourism industry’s longest running and best known responsible tourism awards are once again looking to find the most inspiring companies and organisations work around ... Read more
Have you been on holiday recently and been amazed at what your hotel was doing for the local community, or perhaps taken a tour that really impressed you for the ... Read more
The judges can only select from amongst those that apply – if you know good candidates nominate them, phone or email them, and encourage them to apply. Don’t forget the ... Read more
I come here at this time every year. I have been coming here now, every year, at the same time, for 10 years. And I intend to come here at ... Read more
G Adventures has helped push sustainable tourism to the top of the world travel agenda. Katherine Lawrey speaks to founder Bruce Poon Tip about how the company did it ... Read more
There can be no doubt whatsoever that 2017 was an atypical year for the travel industry. Between setbacks such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters, crises and overtourism, the travel industry ... Read more