Development

March 26, 2023March 20, 2023

Zero Mile Hospitality: The rise of self-sufficient hotels

By Jenny Southan, Editor, Founder and CEO, Globetrender In our globalised world, consumers can eat strawberries in winter or lamb from New Zealand regardless of the fact that they may live ... Read more

March 8, 2023March 3, 2023

Blimps and Balloons: a new era of silent aviation

Aviation, Blog, Development, Responsible Tourism

By Jenny Southan, Editor, Founder and CEO, Globetrender There has been a lot of talk in the press recently about UFOs and Chinese spy balloons, but in the coming years, ... Read more

May 8, 2019June 6, 2019

Small Ways Tour Operators Can Create Big Changes for the Environment

Blog, Certification, Development, Responsible Tourism

By Sharon Conceição Addressing climate change in the adventure travel industry isn’t an easy task. At times, it can even be quite overwhelming, especially for tour operators running small businesses. ... Read more

March 5, 2019May 16, 2019

Going Beyond Trickle Down or Creating Shared Value

Development

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

October 23, 2018October 23, 2018

The destination with solutions to overtourism, climate change and wellbeing

Development, Overtourism, Social Economy

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

October 16, 2018

Ethical or Responsible Tourism?

Development

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

October 9, 2018

How will the Everything as a Service (XaaS) business model transform tourism?

Development

Every single person reading this line is currently benefiting from the Everything as a Service (XaaS) business model, whether we realise it or not. No one is reading this article ... Read more

September 25, 2018

How can the digital revolution be used to better transform tourism?

Development

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

July 24, 2018July 25, 2018

Leaders in Responsible Tourism

Development

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

June 5, 2018June 6, 2018

How Hotels, Tours Companies, Events and Destinations are eliminating plastic

Blog, Development

Today is World Environment Day, and the theme is Beat Plastic Pollution. We’ve looked at this issue before, but so rapidly are the responses emerging, that it is worth revisiting ... Read more

May 1, 2018

Taking responsibility for sustainability is now a business imperative

Development, RT Marketing

Recent research published by TUI clearly shows that consumers expect the industry to take responsibility for ensuring that their product is sustainable. Research by booking.com found that 87% of global ... Read more

April 24, 2018April 30, 2018

How Tourism can rapidly eliminate single use plastics – Earth Day inspiration from around the world

Carbon & Water, Development, RT Marketing

For a somewhat obsessive follower of tourism industry news like me, the spike in press releases that mark the annual Earth Day celebrations provide a quick reference point to the ... Read more

April 10, 2018April 25, 2018

Is Day Zero becoming the new normal, and not just in Cape Town?

Carbon & Water, Destinations, Development

This month, Cape Town may or may not reach Day Zero, signifying the point at which the city runs out of water. According to an April 9th article on South ... Read more

March 13, 2018March 13, 2018

How to engage tourists in sustainable tourism (Part 2): redesign the loyalty scheme

Carbon & Water, Development, Hospitality, RT Marketing, Social Economy

Last week, I spent a night in a hotel in Brussels that has taken a circular economy approach to redesigning the way its loyalty scheme works. Following on from my ... Read more

March 6, 2018

Travelling to encounter the other

Blog, Development, Social Economy

Fifty years ago my father took me for a day trip to Boulogne, just across the channel from Ramsgate. He headed us straight for the back streets to see how ... Read more

January 12, 2018February 5, 2018

Five predictions for responsible tourism in 2018… and one I hope won’t happen

Carbon & Water, Development, Human Rights, Overtourism

In my last blog of 2017, I looked back at some of my personal responsible tourism highlights of that year. I’ve been on holiday for most of the time since ... Read more

January 9, 2018January 31, 2018

Taleb Rifai reflects on his tenure as Secretary-General of UNWTO

Development

2017 was the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. Taleb Rifai’s tenure of office as Secretary General of UNWTO closed at the turn of the year and I asked ... Read more

November 21, 2017November 21, 2017

How can tourism help Dominica be the world’s first Climate Resilient Nation?

Development

Just two months ago, on September 18th, Hurricane Maria hit the Caribbean island of Dominica. Minutes before, this was the Nature Island, a tropical paradise of 365 river and pristine ... Read more

September 26, 2017October 4, 2017

World Tourism Day 2017: opportunities and challenges for achieving sustainable tourism

Development

World Tourism Day occurs this week, with the theme for 2017 being “Sustainable Tourism – a tool for development”. According to the UNWTO’s official site for the event, “World Tourism ... Read more

September 20, 2017October 4, 2017

What contributions do businesses make to local sustainable development? Which do best?

Development, Responsible Tourism

With the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development focus on travelling with respect (#TravelEnjoyRespect) we have focused on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Respect is one of the core ... Read more

September 5, 2017October 4, 2017

WTM Responsible Tourism Awards

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

Word Responsible Tourism Awards have been presented at World Travel Market in London since 2004. Each year we have seen the bar rise, competition has been tough and the successive ... Read more

August 15, 2017October 4, 2017

Why tourism needs to support rewilding initiatives

Development, Responsible Tourism

Last week I spent an afternoon training my binoculars on a field of cows. I got very excited by the sight of some pigs walking down a lane. Then had ... Read more

August 1, 2017October 4, 2017

How can we truly measure tourism’s impact?

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

When people are looking to assert how important tourism is as an industry, they are likely to cite the proportion of global Gross Domestic Product that it is responsible for. ... Read more

July 25, 2017October 4, 2017

Tourism is not a zero sum game

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

When you are working in the field trying to improve the livelihoods of local people this is the kind of email you want to receive: ““Hi – Peter , sorry ... Read more

July 19, 2017October 4, 2017

Could the world’s hotels run on renewable energy?

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

Last week a significant climate change milestone was passed. On July 10th, the Climate Group’s RE100 (the RE standing for renewable energy) announced that the 100th multinational had signed up ... Read more

July 14, 2017September 18, 2017

Tourism’s Natural Advantage: Creating Shared Value

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

The concept of shared value emerges from the writing of Harvard Professor Michael Porter– well-known for his previous work on competition strategy, value chains and cluster theory. In 2011, in ... Read more

June 27, 2017September 18, 2017

Tourism, decent work and the SDGs

Development, Disability, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

Tourism and hospitality are labour intensive, with 8% of the global workforce employed in the sector. As the ILO has pointed out there are many highly skilled well trained professionals ... Read more

May 22, 2017September 18, 2017

Bringing Biodiversity back home – lessons from the graveyard

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

Today is the UN’s International Day for Biodiversity. This year being the UN’s International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, the theme is ‘Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism’. Last Sunday, I ... Read more

May 9, 2017September 18, 2017

Embracing timeshare to tackle tourism issues

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

Timeshare is almost a dirty word in tourism today. But its structure offers much for those trying to make the industry more sustainable. It can deepen connections between guests and ... Read more

May 2, 2017September 12, 2017

WTM Responsible Tourism Awards 2017

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy, Video

For many years the industry has asserted its economic and social importance. The WTTC suggests that travel & tourism is 10.2% of world GDP and that the sector employs 292 million ... Read more

April 21, 2017September 13, 2017

Responsible Tourism and the African Responsible Tourism Awards at WTM Africa

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

The first Responsible Tourism panel on market access for SMEs and emerging entrepreneurs drew an audience of 90 to hear Enver Mally – originally an SME and now part of ... Read more

April 11, 2017September 18, 2017

If you’re looking after the environment, you’re looking after your guests. Tell them.

Carbon & Water, Development, Human Rights, Responsible Tourism

Written above a doorway at London’s Horniman Museum is an Einstein quote that reads: ‘The environment is everything except myself.’ When I saw it last week it reminded me of ... Read more

April 4, 2017September 18, 2017

World Travel Market and the Sustainable Development Goals

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy, Video

WTM, supported by the UNWTO, has sought to present examples of good practice to educate, inspire and challenge business and destinations to deliver on sustainability through WTM Responsible Tourism and ... Read more

March 31, 2017September 18, 2017

Tourism and Nature A Brazil of Opportunities

Development, Responsible Tourism

by Luiz Del Vigna, ABETA For the first time in history, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Part of it is confined to mega cities ... Read more

March 21, 2017September 18, 2017

Seasonality, Cruises and Overtourism: Coping with Success

Carbon & Water, Development, Overtourism, Responsible Tourism

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

March 8, 2017September 18, 2017

Does tourism really contribute to sustainable development?

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy, Video

The Resolution of the 70th United Nations General Assembly to designate 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development has shone the spotlight on tourism. Tourism will either ... Read more

February 21, 2017September 18, 2017

Should destinations focus on yield rather than arrivals?

Development, Overtourism, Responsible Tourism, RT Marketing

From a consumer or traveller perspective there are many answers, but it is not difficult for a traveller or holidaymaker to say why they are travelling. It could relate to ... Read more

February 14, 2017September 18, 2017

Will Transformative Tourism be more than the latest travel trend?

Development, Responsible Tourism, RT Marketing, Trends

Industry leaders are discussing why ‘Transformative Travel’ will be the travel trend of 2017 after Vogue released this article in January. While 2016 was all about experiential travel, this year ... Read more

February 7, 2017September 18, 2017

Why take Responsibility for Tourism?

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism, Video

The simple answer of course is that we should, because tourism is what we make it. We can make tourism better, we can use tourism to make better places to ... Read more

January 24, 2017September 18, 2017

Creating shared value for local communities – the Kerala Experience

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

In 2008 when the Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations was held in Kerala there was overt and mounting hostility to the tourism industry in some of the ... Read more

January 19, 2017September 18, 2017

Will South Africa eradicate irresponsible captive animal practices in 2017?

Development, Responsible Tourism

‘‘JHB airport to remove cub-petting images from its international arrivals corridor’ read the headline in South Africa’s Citizen newspaper on January 13th. I’ve started 2017 – the UN’s International Year ... Read more

January 18, 2017September 18, 2017

Going beyond trickledown

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

Responsible Tourism is about using tourism to make better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit. 2017 is the UN’s International Year of Sustainable ... Read more

January 4, 2017September 18, 2017

A New Year, anti-globalisation and tourism

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

2016 brought the Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump to be the next President of the USA, the full impact of these momentous changes in the government agendas ... Read more

December 22, 2016September 18, 2017

Reality has to be on tourism’s bucket list for 2017

Development, Overtourism, Responsible Tourism

About six months ago my plans to write about a press trip to Jordan were disrupted by the Brexit vote, and I had to write about that instead. Today, my ... Read more

December 20, 2016September 18, 2017

Tourism at the End of the Earth….

Development, Responsible Tourism

Well almost. Thanks to the UK government’s Newton-Picarte science funding and the Economic and Social Research Council’s Impact Acceleration fund I was invited, through Bangor University, to Puerto Williams in ... Read more

December 6, 2016September 18, 2017

The joy of travel – other peoples’ places

Development, Responsible Tourism

We travel to enjoy other peoples’ places, the brochures and websites show us images of their natural and cultural environment the buildings and cafes the landscapes and wildlife. Increasingly those ... Read more

November 29, 2016September 18, 2017

Why partnership has to be the buzzword for sustainable tourism in 2017

Development, Responsible Tourism

2016 has not been a year that many people will look back on that fondly. But as we begin to look forward to 2017, I’d suggest there are some less ... Read more

November 24, 2016September 18, 2017

Airbnb, disintermediation and communities

Development, Responsible Tourism, Social Economy

Airbnb is only one of many new distribution channels which are creating new opportunities for suppliers and consumers. Like previous disruptors it will probably face competition from other web based ... Read more

November 15, 2016September 18, 2017

8 Challenges for sustainable tourism posed at WTM London 2016

Development, Overtourism, Responsible Tourism

I spent the whole of World Travel Market sat in the lecture halls, listening to the women and men most committed to developing sustainable tourism discuss the greatest challenges as ... Read more

November 9, 2016September 18, 2017

WTM London 2016 10 years of Responsible Tourism

Development, Overtourism, Responsible Tourism, RT Marketing

Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director World Travel Market, toasted the ten years of Responsible Tourism at WTM and thanked all those who have become part of the WTM Responsible Tourism ... Read more

November 8, 2016September 18, 2017

Ten years of promoting responsible tourism at WTM

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism, RT Marketing

Today World Travel Market celebrates the 10th anniversary of World Responsible Tourism Day with a programme that assesses the past, present and future of efforts to make the industry more ... Read more

October 25, 2016September 18, 2017

Enhancing the Tourism Experience for Guests and Hosts

Development, Responsible Tourism

Responsible Tourism is about using tourism to make better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit. 2017 is the UN’s International Year of Sustainable ... Read more

October 18, 2016September 18, 2017

Last Chance Travel: What if the only truly sustainable form of tourism is less of it?

Carbon & Water, Development, Overtourism, Responsible Tourism

Issues around Venice and the problems of what is fast becoming known as ‘overtourism‘ are being talked about a great deal these days. What I was unaware of until reading ... Read more

September 13, 2016September 18, 2017

It is a privilege to judge the Responsible Tourism Awards

Certification, Development, Responsible Tourism

Since 2004 when responsibletravel.com launch Responsible Tourism Awards I have been privileged to chair the judges for the Awards presented at WTM in London on World Responsible Tourism Day each ... Read more

August 30, 2016September 18, 2017

People and Gorillas at Bwindi

Development, Human Rights, Responsible Tourism

Looking out of the lodge window at Rushaga in southwest Uganda close on the border with Congo and Rwanda the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest home to the fabled mountain gorillas presents ... Read more

August 23, 2016September 18, 2017

Will the “Brexit Bounce” mean a living wage for London Hotel Workers?

Development, Responsible Tourism

“Post referendum weaker pound boosts UK inbound tourist spending” reads a headline on the homepage of Travel Weekly UK this week. “Massive Brexit boost to tourism in UK sees 3 ... Read more

July 5, 2016September 18, 2017

Communicating Responsible Tourism

Development, Responsible Tourism, RT Marketing

At this year’s WTM in London we shall be looking back at 20 years of Responsible Tourism in South Africa and in the UK – critically assessing how much progress ... Read more

June 8, 2016September 18, 2017

Zika, Strikes, Terrorism but Tourism Remains Remarkably Resilient

Development, Responsible Tourism

In the last few days the dependence of tourism on the wider economy and the disruption caused by conflicts within them has been highlighted. As 500,000 British holidaymakers headed for ... Read more

March 29, 2016April 26, 2022

2016 World Responsible Tourism Awards Launched Today

Development, Responsible Tourism

20 years ago South Africa became the first country in the world to adopt Responsible Tourism as a central part of its national tourism development strategy. And 10 years ago ... Read more

March 22, 2016September 18, 2017

Airbnb, Blockchain, and the tourism reputation economy

Development, Responsible Tourism, RT Marketing

Three recent stories about Airbnb’s future growth hold considerable interest for anyone concerned about the impact of such technology upon tourism and how the industry might develop along more responsible ... Read more

March 1, 2016April 27, 2022

The future of elephants is in our hands

Development, Responsible Tourism

In 2013 the UN General Assembly decided to proclaim 3 March, the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), ... Read more

November 17, 2015September 18, 2017

The biggest problem with ecotaxes is… they are called taxes

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

The Maldives began charging a so called ‘Green Tax’ at US$6 per tourist bed from the November 1. This followed on the heels of an announcement in September that the ... Read more

October 6, 2015September 18, 2017

Groundbreaking compassionate destination concept launched in Kerala

Development, Responsible Tourism

A new initiative has been launched in the city of Kozhikode in Kerala, which aims to ensure the city lives by the mantra of how responsible tourism should work in ... Read more

September 29, 2015September 18, 2017

How tourism can drive positive change for our planet and all people

Development, Responsible Tourism

The simplest definition of Responsible Tourism is that it is about using tourism to make better places to live in and better places to visit; in that order. At the ... Read more

September 15, 2015September 18, 2017

Child protection is still an issue for tourism

Development, Human Rights, Responsible Tourism

In November 2014 ECPAT launched a new global Taskforce to tackle the rapid acceleration of sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism. Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, former UN Special ... Read more

July 28, 2015September 18, 2017

How can cities meet the needs of locals and tourists?

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

Over the last few weeks there have been several stories in the press (including two on this blog) about issues to do with overcrowding at destinations and the hostility brewing ... Read more

July 21, 2015September 18, 2017

Will popular destinations like Barcelona or Venice be damaged by tourism?

Development, Overtourism, Responsible Tourism

There have been protests in a number of honeypot European cities in the last couple of years. In Venice there is an anti-cruise ship campaign, in Berlin the local government ... Read more

June 22, 2015September 18, 2017

Volunteering: “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”

Development, Responsible Tourism

The origin of this often quoted maxim dates back at least to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153), who is credited with “Hell is full of good intentions or desires.” It ... Read more

February 16, 2015April 29, 2022

Using tourism to create shared value in Kerala

Development, Responsible Tourism

One in four new jobs in Kerala is reported to be in tourism. The state in Southern India, which remains largely unravaged by modern industry, has near universal literacy. It’s ... Read more

November 24, 2014June 2, 2020

How tourism can help Africa, combat Ebola (and hear a good song)

Development, Responsible Tourism

Fears of Ebola are affecting tourism and the communities that rely on it across the continent of Africa. If your travel company does business with any of the 54 countries ... Read more

November 2, 2014September 18, 2017

WTM’s responsible tourism programme is more pertinent than ever

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

With the IPCC new report into climate change, we are reminded of the impacts of choices we make. Join us to discuss making the best choices throughout WTM.

October 29, 2014September 18, 2017

Collaboration is the only way forward for sustainable destination development

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

To successfully manage and develop sustainable destinations, partnerships with the local communities should not just be an obligation, they should be seen as good business sense

July 29, 2014September 18, 2017

How to ensure destinations and guests benefit from tourism

Development, Responsible Tourism

Managing tourism to maintain quality of life for local people and a quality visitor experience is a challenge in increasing numbers of destinations.

March 24, 2014September 18, 2017

How can we achieve sustainable tourism growth? Is “Wise Growth” possible?

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

Is it possible to meet increasing demand for travel and tourism while protecting and promoting the wellbeing of the people who live in the destinations?

March 13, 2014September 18, 2017

Is it time to ban the word ‘sustainability’?

Carbon & Water, Development, Human Rights, Responsible Tourism

Is it time to ban vague talk of sustainability and instead focus on the specific actions necessary for us to achieve the ‘s’ word’s aims?

March 3, 2014September 18, 2017

Does responsible tourism work? Six new pieces of proof that it does

Blog, Certification, Development, Responsible Tourism

Does responsible tourism work? Six new studies show how its economic impacts far exceed those offered by less sustainable alternatives.

January 27, 2014September 18, 2017

Kerala tourism honoured for achievements in Responsible Travel

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

Kerala is increasingly recognised as a model for responsible tourism, and it has just won the highest honour given to government bodies for tourism

October 17, 2013September 18, 2017

Sustainable hotel water use – who is responsible?

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

In an era of increasing pressure on resources, managing hotel water use effectively is essential. But who is responsible, and what should they do?

September 23, 2013June 2, 2020

Trust is at the heart of responsibility

Development, Responsible Tourism

Smart travel companies ensure their consumers trust them about sustainability, recognising they do not need to feel uneasy or guilty about the impact of their holiday.

August 27, 2013September 18, 2017

For TUI, responsibility and trust are the bottom line

Development, Responsible Tourism

For tour operators like TUI, trust and responsibility go hand in hand, and are increasingly seen as essential to how they do business.

July 1, 2013September 18, 2017

RT makes business sense in Kerala – and elsewhere

Development, Responsible Tourism, RT Marketing

An international conference in Kumarakom, Kerala, reviewing progress made in the state since the International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations launched their local economic development initiative in 2008. ... Read more

June 17, 2013September 18, 2017

Water: an issue for the tourism industry?

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

But by 2030 it is expected that the demand for water will exceed supply by 40% and that half the world’s population will be living in areas of high water ... Read more

June 10, 2013September 18, 2017

Trouble in paradise – local support matters

Development, Human Rights, Responsible Tourism

In recent months there have been several conflicts between tourism developments and local people, from Nepal and India to the Philippines to Can responsible tourism address these issues and forge ... Read more

May 13, 2013September 18, 2017

WTTC 2013 awards reward RT sustainable development efforts

Carbon & Water, Development, Responsible Tourism

The 2013 winners of the World Tourism for Tomorrow awards are a reminder of the breadth of issues such tourism operators address

April 15, 2013September 18, 2017

Responsible Tourism issues are more than just environmental

Carbon & Water, Certification, Development, Responsible Tourism

World Responsible Tourism Day 2013 focus on more than just environmental issues – covering everything from child protection to certification

February 26, 2013September 18, 2017

Sustainable stories and tourism marketing

Development, Responsible Tourism, RT Marketing

Responsible tourism companies need to get their sustainable stories out there for market advantage and to build trust and brand loyalty.

January 28, 2013September 18, 2017

Responsible tourism employment issues

Development, Human Rights, Responsible Tourism

Tourism employment issues are central to how the industry addresses its triple bottom line. Responsible businesses cannot offer sustainable experiences while treating staff badly