Responsible Tourism

November 25, 2021December 6, 2021

The Responsible Tourism Programme and & Awards Across WTM in 2022

Responsible Tourism

Responsible Tourism will again feature across all four shows next year. 2022 is the 20th anniversary of the Cape Town Declaration, and at WTM Africa in April ... Read more

November 25, 2021November 30, 2021

In 2021, the World Responsible Tourism Awards went global

Blog, Responsible Tourism, Responsible Tourism

With the launch of the Global Awards this year, chosen by an international panel of judges from amongst the regional Gold Awards, the programme has come of ... Read more

November 25, 2021November 25, 2021

COP26 – aviation untouched – again

Blog, Responsible Tourism

There was the briefest flurry of optimism at COP26 when — in the early hours of 10 November — the International Aviation Climate Ambition Coalition (IACAC) published ... Read more

October 27, 2021

Procrastination and JFDI

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The polite version of JFDI  is “Just Flipping Do It”, the antidote to procrastination.  Procrastination is common and has multiple causes ranging from laziness and the undesirable ... Read more

October 27, 2021

Code Red for Aviation

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The “code red” alert for the climate from the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report has implications for aviation, and we must act now. ... Read more

October 25, 2021November 2, 2021

Responsible Tourism at WTM London, November 2021

Blog, Responsible Tourism Spotlight

WTM London 2021 is a blended event at ExCeL with in-person and group sessions and virtual participation.  The Responsible Tourism Programme is more diverse this year as ... Read more

September 30, 2021September 30, 2021

The 2021 Global Responsible Tourism Awards

Responsible Tourism, Responsible Tourism Spotlight

We have had an excellent response to the Awards this year — with some inspiring, innovative and scalable solutions to the challenge of sustainability. There are many ... Read more

September 23, 2021September 27, 2021

COP26, Biodiversity and Destination Resilience at WTM London

Blog, Responsible Tourism

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, ... Read more

September 23, 2021September 23, 2021

The Platform for Change Directory

Blog, Responsible Tourism

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 ... Read more

September 23, 2021September 23, 2021

Never mind the patter watch the hands

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Labels and certificates convey little; they lack meaning for travellers and holidaymakers The travel and tourism sector has generated a plethora of labels, all intended to convey ... Read more

August 9, 2021August 9, 2021

Climate Change is a Business Risk

Blog, Responsible Tourism

For years, the climate change debate has been about the science, which is — ironically — convenient for deniers of climate change. ... Read more

July 28, 2021July 30, 2021

Time to change: Procrastination is deadly and expensive

Blog, Responsible Tourism

For decades, scientists have refused to make a strong link between climate change and extreme weather events, but that has changed. Recently, Bloomberg Green reported extreme weather ... Read more

July 20, 2021July 20, 2021

Is there a business case for Responsible Tourism?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

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 ... Read more

July 13, 2021July 20, 2021

Responsibility matters for businesses communities and destinations

Blog, Responsible Tourism

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 ... Read more

July 6, 2021

What can I do to travel sustainably?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Research shows that travellers and holidaymakers want to travel sustainably and look for businesses and destinations that take responsibility for providing them with those opportunities. 48% say ... Read more

June 22, 2021

Why Sustainable Tourism Failed

Blog, Responsible Tourism

This is a guest post written by John Swarbrooke. Way back in 1998, John published the seminal text on Sustainable Tourism Management, and it is still in print. ... Read more

June 2, 2021June 2, 2021

We learnt to live with influenza. We’ll have to learn to live with Coronavirus

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Global coronavirus cases continue to rise; deaths have also been increasing. However, official figures may not fully reflect the actual number in many countries. As the World ... Read more

May 18, 2021May 18, 2021

We tell the wrong stories about Africa

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Daniella Sachs describes herself as a white South Africa, accepting the “agency of skin colour, ” she writes “while I accept that I was born with ... Read more

May 6, 2021May 6, 2021

Tourism and Biodiversity, Friend or Foe?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

At WTM Africa there was a panel discussion about the relationship between tourism and the maintenance of biodiversity. Africa is still blessed with much of world’ charismatic ... Read more

April 27, 2021April 26, 2021

Cause for optimism on climate change? But Aviation lags behind

Blog, Responsible Tourism

There is growing awareness of the consequences of climate change. Last year the Pew Research Center surveyed people in 14 countries, amid the pandemic, about climate change. ... Read more

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021

Why Decarbonising Aviation matters and is urgent

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Decarbonising aviation is vital to the future of the travel and tourism sector. The aviation sector needs to decarbonise itself, and it is demonstrably failing to make ... Read more

April 9, 2021April 9, 2021

Two Decades of Responsible Travel

Blog, Responsible Tourism

At the heart of Responsible Travel and Responsible Tourism is the principle that better places to live are better places to visit. ... Read more

April 7, 2021April 19, 2021

Launch of Global Responsible Tourism Awards

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Since their launch in 2004 at WTM London, the World Responsible Tourism Awards have grown in prestige. ... Read more

March 30, 2021March 30, 2021

Responsible Tourism at WTM Africa has global relevance

Blog, Responsible Tourism

We can learn much about tourism in Africa – celebrating diversity and inclusiveness, growing the cake to create more value for neighbouring communities, living with and benefitting ... Read more

March 23, 2021March 22, 2021

Narratives Matter

Blog, Responsible Tourism

We are a storytelling species. We use stories to make sense of the world and to educate our children. ... Read more

March 16, 2021March 15, 2021

Will we build back better?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

There has been great optimism in the media that we will “build back better” after lockdown. It is a worthy aspiration. I also hope that we will. ... Read more

March 9, 2021March 9, 2021

Resilience moves centre stage

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The climate emergency is upon us. We need to reduce emissions faster, but we also need to cope with the consequences of our failure to act over ... Read more

March 2, 2021March 2, 2021

What can tourism do for biodiversity?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

David Attenborough in his most recent series A Perfect Planet has celebrated our Earth’s biodiversity and documented the natural forces – volcanos, the Sun, weather and oceans ... Read more

February 23, 2021February 22, 2021

We cannot continue with Business as Usual

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The greenhouse gases we emit are largely invisible, the travel and tourism industry does not have smoke stacks and many of our emissions are embedded in our ... Read more

February 16, 2021February 16, 2021

Pandemics and Climate Change

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The challenge of climate change is characterised by scale and complexity. But, it is not seen as a clear and present danger; it is not seen as ... Read more

February 9, 2021February 9, 2021

Nature Strikes Back: Denial, Delay and Mistakes

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The consequences of climate change are with us. Climate change is a real and present danger. ... Read more

February 2, 2021February 1, 2021

COVID-19 reminds us that we are a global industry with global responsibilities

Blog, Responsible Tourism

It is improbable that there will be a post-COVID world. Our sector will need to learn to deliver business and leisure travel in a world where COVID-19, ... Read more

January 26, 2021January 25, 2021

International travel relies on a rules-based international order

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Three current crises – COVID-19, climate change, biodiversity loss – all have one thing in common. No country, state or individual can successfully solve or even ... Read more

December 22, 2020December 18, 2020

11 lessons I learned during 2020

Blog, Responsible Tourism

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 ... Read more

December 11, 2020December 11, 2020

Three reasons why European tourism should return by train

Blog, Responsible Tourism

As we move towards 2021, and begin to imagine what comes next, isn’t it time we prepared for an increasingly inevitable future, rather than build backwards to ... Read more

November 25, 2020November 24, 2020

Reflecting on WTM Virtual: How should tourism talk about biodiversity?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

One of the recurring themes during the sessions for WTM Virtual and London Travel Week was the need for tourism to pay far greater attention to the ... Read more

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020

Tourism & Racism

Blog, Diversity & Inclusion, Responsible Tourism

Our industry thrives on the diversity of our world – we need to ensure that we ensure that we are diverse and inclusive,  to build a better ... Read more

November 18, 2020November 24, 2020

Wrap Up: Sustainable Tourism is Open for Business – Just A Drop Session

Press Releases, Responsible Tourism, WTM London

Sustainability and a spirit of openness will help drive the post-COVID recovery of not only the travel and tourism industry but also the wider global economy, according ... Read more

November 17, 2020November 17, 2020

Responsible Tourism: the Elephant in the Room

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Reflecting on the two days of Responsible Tourism panels at WTM, London last week it is clear that there is increasing recognition of the role of government ... Read more

November 12, 2020November 18, 2020

Wrap Up: It’s not about us if it’s without us – Responsible Tourism Programme at WTM Virtual on Wednesday 11 2020

Press Releases, Responsible Tourism, WTM London

“It’s not about us if it’s without us,” said Keith Henry, President and CEO, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, during a session that brought together commentators from ... Read more

November 11, 2020November 18, 2020

Wrap Up: WTM Responsible Tourism Session on Tuesday November 10

Press Releases, Responsible Tourism, WTM London

WTM Virtual’s Responsible Tourism Programme on Tuesday November 10 started with the issue dominating everyone’s minds, Covid. Inge Huijbrechts, Global Senior Vice President Responsible Business and Safety ... Read more

November 10, 2020January 13, 2021

WTM Virtual publishes roadmap for Decarbonising Aviation

Press Releases, Responsible Tourism, WTM London

The tourism sector, airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers, governments and international organisations need to work in co-operation to take immediate action to rethink aviation in order to head ... Read more

November 10, 2020November 10, 2020

Responsible Tourism is about finding solutions

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Last Wednesday, we announced those we had commended and highly commended in this year’s World Responsible Tourism Awards, we wanted to recognise those who had shouldered responsibility ... Read more

November 9, 2020November 18, 2020

Wrap Up – Addressing the Real Issues on virtual World Responsible Tourism Day

Press Releases, Responsible Tourism, WTM London

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 ... Read more

November 9, 2020November 9, 2020

Responsible Tourism at WTM, London in November

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The pandemic has caused WTM London to go virtual. WTM London this year is carbon neutral – well nearly. ... Read more

November 6, 2020November 9, 2020

Decarbonising Aviation

Aviation, Blog, Responsible Tourism

Slowly around the world efforts are being made to decarbonise our lifestyles. ... Read more

November 4, 2020November 18, 2020

World Responsible Tourism Awards 2020 Addressing the Challenge of COVID-19

Press Releases, Responsible Tourism, WTM London

This year, the World Responsible Tourism Awards are dedicated to recognising those working across tourism who have done something extraordinary to address the many challenges of the ... Read more

November 3, 2020November 18, 2020

Announcing the Responsible Tourism Programme for London Travel Week and WTM Virtual

Press Releases, Responsible Tourism, WTM London

Throughout two unique events, WTM Virtual and London Travel Week have gathered an unrivalled selection of voices to explore the way forward for responsible tourism. On November 4, London Travel Week ... Read more

November 2, 2020October 30, 2020

Responsible Tourism at WTM Virtual

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The pandemic has caused WTM London to go virtual. WTM London this year is carbon neutral – well nearly. Our computers, networks and servers all use increasing ... Read more

October 27, 2020October 27, 2020

Employing the differently-abled

Blog, Diversity & Inclusion, Responsible Tourism

At the heart of Responsible Tourism is the idea that tourism businesses look at the social, environmental and economic issues in the place or places that they ... Read more

October 27, 2020October 26, 2020

What is regenerative tourism? And how should we deliver it?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

If regenerative tourism is just another new buzzword repackaging the same old thing, it will also be devalued and then replaced in time. Yes it is about ... Read more

October 20, 2020October 19, 2020

Will we make tourism better? An interview with Taleb Rifai

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The COVID-19 crisis has created an opportunity to rethink tourism, a pause enabling us to reshape the sector and to do tourism better – if we want ... Read more

October 12, 2020October 9, 2020

How can we ensure a lasting recovery for tourism?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Tourism’ future won’t be saved by cleaner aviation fuels or speedier quarantine processes. These just improve the current model. They get us back to getting bigger again. ... Read more

October 7, 2020October 7, 2020

Can we make Tourism Better?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

While recognising that the pandemic is far from over and that many countries are experiencing a second wave, it is important to look beyond survival to recovery. ... Read more

September 29, 2020September 29, 2020

Biodiversity, eco-system services and tourism – conflict or symbiosis?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Biodiversity loss and climate change are the twin existential challenges that we face as humanity. The responsible recovery of the travel and tourism sector after the ... Read more

September 25, 2020September 28, 2020

How to deal with the crisis, part 2: Reasons to be cheerful…

Blog, Responsible Tourism

So, at the end of Climate Week, on Friday’s for Future Global Day of Climate action, and with World Tourism Day at the weekend, here are my ... Read more

September 22, 2020September 22, 2020

Rewiring the world economy

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Neoliberalism is in retreat. In an increasingly protectionist world this affects tourism directly as travel across borders becomes less frictionless, decarbonisation becomes a political imperative and biodiversity ... Read more

September 15, 2020September 14, 2020

How do we really deal with the crisis facing us all?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Last week I learned that 2020 is the second hottest year on record, after 2016. (For the record, that makes it the second hottest year in the ... Read more

September 14, 2020September 17, 2020

Why destinations should reinforce responsible tourism within their strategies

Blog, Destinations, Responsible Tourism

In the new normal, destinations should place sustainability at the core of their strategies as it is the main element that underpins their resilience and tackles impacts. ... Read more

September 11, 2020September 11, 2020

How do we build travel back better?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

At WTM Virtual in November we shall be addressing the core challenge that confronts our sector: How do we build back better after the damage done to ... Read more

September 8, 2020September 8, 2020

Two-thirds of consumers are concerned about climate change, why aren’t travel businesses doing more?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

We can take steps to protect ourselves from COVID-19, but we cannot self-isolate from climate change. ... Read more

September 1, 2020September 7, 2020

Which trends should guide tourism’s recovery?

Blog, Resilience and Recovery, Responsible Tourism

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 ... Read more

August 25, 2020August 26, 2020

How are biodiversity loss and human disease affecting tourism?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

SARS, MERS and Ebola originated in wild animals. There is a growing awareness of the links between animal health and the health of our planet.

Read more

August 18, 2020August 18, 2020

Cancelled. Where must tourism travel next?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

All this is – too late, and too slowly – coming to a head. How fragile and unjust is the system we have designed. How it relies ... Read more

August 11, 2020August 26, 2020

COVID-19 isn’t all bad

Blog, Responsible Tourism

COVID-19 maybe, for now, the new normal. But, there is some good news too.

Read more

August 4, 2020August 26, 2020

Will 2020 define the future of tourism?

Blog, Resilience and Recovery, Responsible Tourism

Cut emissions in half by 2030. This is what defines the future of tourism. Not what tourism looks like in 2020, but what it needs to look like in ten ... Read more

July 30, 2020September 25, 2020

Hydrogen will power the next generation of planes

Aviation, Blog, Responsible Tourism, Responsible Tourism Spotlight

Aviation Week earlier this month concluded that “from 2030 onward to 2050, renewable hydrogen production technologies should reach maturity, the strategy says. Hydrogen and hydrogen-derived synthetic fuels ... Read more

July 22, 2020August 19, 2020

Why is it essential for luxury travel and sustainability to have a harmonious future?

Blog, Luxury, Responsible Tourism

Harmony should be created between luxury travel and sustainability. Here’s the reason why… ... Read more

July 21, 2020August 17, 2020

COVID-19, the good, the bad and the ugly

Blog, Responsible Tourism

COVID-19 is a global pandemic, but it is unevenly spread around the world. In some countries the worst has passed for now, in others the situation is ... Read more

July 14, 2020August 17, 2020

The Pandemic and Tourism in Africa

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The pandemic has hit tourism to Africa hard. The Gambia, in West Africa, has a population of just over 2 million, with many living in rural poverty. ... Read more

June 30, 2020August 17, 2020

Climate Change – Flying is not the problem

Aviation, Blog, Responsible Tourism

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. ... Read more

June 29, 2020August 17, 2020

Racism in tourism, decarbonising aviation and the pandemic

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Learning to live with the threat of COVID-19 will take time. As this month’s Responsible Tourism News goes to press some states in the USA are halting ... Read more

June 23, 2020August 17, 2020

South Africa’s Responsible Tourism: Challenges & Opportunities

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Last week I was able to interview Derek, I began by asking him about how important tourism was to creating a more just and equal society post-apartheid. ... Read more

June 16, 2020August 14, 2020

How can destinations support domestic tourism?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Now as our industry enters a different phase, where we are tentatively reopening again, it is good to see examples appearing of governments and private sector initiatives ... Read more

June 4, 2020August 17, 2020

What we are looking for in World Responsible Tourism Award entries

Blog, Responsible Tourism

As many of you will already be aware, we opened entries for the World Responsible Tourism Awards a couple of weeks ago. The aim of this year’s ... Read more

June 3, 2020September 30, 2020

Does the COVID-19 emergency mean over-tourism is over?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

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. ... Read more

May 19, 2020August 13, 2020

World Responsible Tourism Awards 2020

Blog, Responsible Tourism

In this year when the world faces a global pandemic, it seemed inappropriate to continue with the World Responsible Tourism Awards as usual. ... Read more

May 15, 2020August 13, 2020

The future of aviation, why reputation matters and the economic impact of COVID-19

Blog, Responsible Tourism

I publish Responsible Tourism News each month covering the major developments in Responsible Tourism. ... Read more

May 15, 2020May 29, 2020

Catch up – Tourism post-COVID: the challenges and opportunities for sustainable travel

Video, Webinars

Speakers Jeremy Smith is the editor of sustainable tourism news site Travindy.com. Author of recently published Transforming Travel – realising the potential of sustainable tourism (2018). As ... Read more

May 12, 2020June 1, 2020

Catch up – The New Normal? Country Branding at the time of Covid-19… and after

Video, Webinars

Speakers Samantha Adams is VP, Advertising Sales, Western Europe for BBC Global News, the international, commercial arm of the BBC. Prior to joining the BBC, she worked ... Read more

May 11, 2020September 30, 2020

How do we redesign tourism for a sustainable future?

Blog, Resilience and Recovery, Responsible Tourism

As we look at ways to achieve a sustainable future for tourism, we should ask what tourism can do to support a sustainable future. How can we ... Read more

May 4, 2020August 26, 2020

COVID-19: Is it time to press the reset button?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The current crisis is without parallel, the first global pandemic in the age of mass tourism. Any return to business as usual looks uncertain.

Read more

April 27, 2020August 13, 2020

How can we ensure tourism’s recovery benefits those that most need it?

Blog, Resilience and Recovery, Responsible Tourism

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 ... Read more

April 17, 2020August 13, 2020

Business as Usual – no time soon

Blog, Responsible Tourism

These are extraordinary times, a return to business as usual looks improbable. The IMF is predicting that the ‘Great Lockdown’ will result in the worst recession since ... Read more

April 7, 2020August 12, 2020

COVID-19, Resilience and keeping in touch

Blog, Resilience, Responsible Tourism

When the post-mortems begin to be done on the different ways the pandemic was handled in different countries we shall learn a great deal about what works ... Read more

March 31, 2020August 11, 2020

A future template for resilience? How we can repurpose tourism and support local communities

Blog, Responsible Tourism

We have been forced to stop travelling, to repatriate our guests, do what we can for those that depend on us, and only then try to find ... Read more

March 23, 2020August 12, 2020

Resilience and COVID-19

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The World Health Organisation is providing data on the spread of the virus; national governments are determining their response. Governments around the world have acted to advise ... Read more

March 13, 2020August 10, 2020

Does Coronavirus have any lessons for sustainable tourism?

Blog, Responsible Tourism

Coronavirus dominates the news, but one doesn’t have to look very far to see people making connections between the current emergency and sustainable tourism. ... Read more

March 5, 2020August 10, 2020

Offsetting and the aviation industry are being challenged

Blog, Carbon & Water, Responsible Tourism

I have explained why carbon offsetting is part of the problem, it is not part of the solution. Most carbon offsets do not deliver for the environment, ... Read more

February 28, 2020February 27, 2020

Three ways to promote sustainable travel to align with consumers’ values

Blog, Responsible Tourism

As the sustainable travel sector continues to grow, more and more travellers are seeking out holiday experiences that align with their own values on sustainability. What’s more, ... Read more

February 24, 2020February 24, 2020

What if our trains had a bit more jazz? Disco? Or foot baths?

Responsible Tourism

Early this July, the Jazz Night Express will take a trainload of passengers from Rotterdam to Berlin. Along the way passengers will be able to enjoy live ... Read more

February 4, 2020

Carbon Offsetting: Too good to be true?

Responsible Tourism

56 businesses and individuals working in tourism have joined Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency accepting that this “requires immediate and radical action by our governments, our industry ... Read more

January 30, 2020

How the hospitality sector could get vegetarian food right (by a meat eater)

Responsible Tourism

My vegetarian wife says that when I met her 15 years ago I pretended to be a vegetarian to impress her. She says I was pretending, because ... Read more

January 21, 2020

Walking & Talking in India

Responsible Tourism

I am writing this in Binsar, in the foothills of the Himalaya in Uttarakhand. I was Delhi for the presentation of the India Responsible Tourism Awards, I ... Read more

January 17, 2020January 20, 2020

Time for something different…

Responsible Tourism

This New Years Eve, a group of friends and I were having dinner. At someone’s prompting, we all shared our five favourite moments of 2019. Two things ... Read more

January 7, 2020

The Cost of Greenhouse Gases

Responsible Tourism

There is little doubt that, assuming war does not break out, that climate change will be the dominant story of 2020. COP 25 was, to say the ... Read more

December 17, 2019December 17, 2019

What were the key headlines for tourism’s sustainability in 2019? Here’s 55 of them…

Responsible Tourism

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 ... Read more

November 15, 2019April 22, 2020

The Challenge of Building Sustainable Hotels

Responsible Tourism, Video

The major hotel brands no longer own many hotels, they operate them using a variety of agreements: managed, franchised, or licensed. Operation has been increasingly separated from ... Read more

November 6, 2019

WTM World Responsible Tourism Awards 2019

Press Releases, Responsible Tourism

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 ... Read more

November 6, 2019November 6, 2019

Tackling Climate Change on Day 3 at WTM London

Press Releases, Responsible Tourism, WTM London

The 40th edition of WTM London began with a session exploring Decarbonising Travel and Tourism: Is the Industry Doing Enough? Speaking by video before the main panel, ... Read more