The global travel and tourism industry should be viewed and treated as the “Gatekeeper of the World” as it strives to safeguard this vast resource for our children and grandchildren, was the key message from World Travel Market Chairman Fiona Jeffery as she opened the event’s World Responsible Tourism Day (Wednesday 10 November).
Jeffery joined forces with environmental heavy weight Tony Juniper to officially kick off the day, which seeks to highlight the industry’s role in encouraging and promoting health and happiness to all it touches while remaining mindful of cost and enormous responsibility that comes with that role.
The importance of happiness of both holidaymakers and communities should not be estimated, Jeffery told those gathered at the WRTD opening ceremony with ‘Gross National Happiness’ increasingly nudging its way up the political agenda with officials from 100 countries meeting last year to consider policies focused on happiness.
With 2010 named the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations, now is the time to build on consumer awareness and the progress made so far in understanding and protecting biodiversity.
The WRTD programme takes off with a talk between Juniper and BBC TV presenter Stephen Sackur on key environmental issues. As well as being a former director of Friends of the Earth UK, Juniper has written extensively on environmental and sustainability issues and worked towards a more sustainable society at all levels.
The WRTD programme also features a ‘Hot Seat’ interview with Sandals Resorts International chief executive Adam Stewart and Sackur. Stewart is the driving force behind the Sandals Foundation, unveiled last year to support education and community projects, as well as, encourage preservation.
Further key debates around climate change and the Mexico oil disaster are also scheduled for WRTD as well as additional events such as an update on the Tour Operators’ Initiative for Sustainable Tourism on Tuesday 9 November and ‘Beyond Trickdown’ on Thursday 11 November such is the overwhelming popularity of the of the programme.
