Key industry leaders to discuss responsible tourism opportunities

World Travel Market (WTM) 2014’s Responsible Tourism Programme has attracted some big names and industry leaders, demonstrating how responsible travel is now entering the mainstream and becoming a more important issue.

The event stretches across four days, beginning on Monday 3 November, with Tuesday’s programme including some of the industry’s largest and most respected organisation, including Tui, Thomas Cook, Kuoni, Virgin Holidays and ABTA.

Charlotte Sutton, conference & events manager for WTM, said, “The number of big name companies taking part in the World Responsible Tourism Programme this year demonstrates how the issue is moving up the industry’s boardroom agenda.”

Tuesday’s opening event, ‘Increasing the Local Economic Impact of Tourism’ will see panellists Jane Ashton, director of group sustainable development at TUI Travel, Jo Hendrickx, sustainable destinations managers at Thomas Cook, and Heidi van Der War, director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism in South Africa, take to the stage. Each of the panellists will present case studies from their own experiences that have given opportunities to local suppliers and producers.

Other sessions taking place in the morning include discussing how to reduce energy and water consumption and how sustainability measures can make companies more resilient and profitable.

In the afternoon delegates will tackle issues around accessibility and opportunity, as well as considering wildlife tourism’s relationship with and responsibility for captive wild animals.

Photo: lele3100 via Flickr 

Further reading:

Experts from across the globe meet to discuss sustainable tourism

Green Globe launches sustainable tourism certification

Video: Jane Ashton, Tui Travel, on the future of sustainable tourism

Sustainable tourism industry needs third party certification

The Guide to Sustainable Tourism 2014