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WTM World Responsible Tourism Day
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View video, audio and presentation content of the 2010 WTM World Responsible Tourism programme from the WTM Player on the World Travel Market website.
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Social Responsibility – 11.00 – 12.00, NG Room 4/5
The travel and tourism industry makes a dynamic contribution to social development in many countries around the world. But is their a gap between the rhetoric and reality?
A hard-hitting examination of the industry’s responsibility for welfare of children and young people.
The session compares principles laid out in the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics, a far reaching blueprint for the industry and professionals, governments, local communities and visitors and assesses the impact.
Speakers:
Alberto Canovas - Programme Manager, YCI
Mod Le Froy, Global Boarders
Tricia Barnett, Tourism Concern
Andrew Jones, Sanctuary Resorts
Alice Macek, ECPAT
Mr Zoltan Somogyi, Executive Director for Member Relations and Services, UNWTO
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Ten Years on: The Tour Operators Initiative (TOI) for Sustainable Tourism Development
11.00 – 12.00, NG Room 8
Ten years ago, the TOI was one of the first groups of tour operators to look at how they could make their businesses more sustainable.
A decade later and we select some of the TOI’s key approaches to sustainable tourism development.
In addition, the organisation demonstrates how multi-stakeholder partnerships can influence the lifecycle of a destination and the well-being of communities.
Speakers:
Andreas Museler, Chairman for Tour Operators Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Developement (TOI)
Dr Tom Selanniemi, Senior adviser to the Tour Operators Initiative for Sustainable Tourism Development (TOI)
Martina Kohl, Tourism expert, World Wide fund for Nature (WWF)
Thomas Meller, Director, Hotel Development and Operations, MARTI (Mesoamerican Reef Tourism Initiative)
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Tourism Rainforests – 12.30 – 13.30, NG Room 8
Last year, WTM WRTD opening ceremony put the spotlight on the world’s rainforests when delegates were asked to join the fight to stop mass burning.
Twice as much carbon is stored in trees as in the whole of the earth’s atmosphere and is critical to the struggle against climate change.
This year World Travel Market looks at the contribution which tourism can make to the conservation of forests and the sustainable livelihoods of communities.
Chairman: Matt Walpole, UNEP - WCMC
Speakers:
Quinn Meyer, Crees Expeditions & Foundation
Geovanny Ramirez, Casa Corcovado Jungle Lodge, Costa Rica
Andres Ordonez, Kapawi Ecolodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Liza Masias, Director for Business Development Sales and Marketing, InKaterr
Mario Moyses, President of EMBRATUR (Brazilian Tourist Board)
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Taking Responsibility for the Supply Chain. 14.00 – 15.00, NG Room 8
Supply chains impact on local economies and the environment, for better or worse. Drawing on the experience of a community in The Gambia, this session will consider how companies can take action and review some of the tools that are available to help.
Chairman: Dr Xavier Font, International Centre for Responsible Tourism, Leeds, UK
Speakers:
Adama Bah, Gambia is Good Initiative will describe how local sourcing of fruit and vegetables has benefited local farmers, the balance of payments and added to the guest experience
Julie Middleton, The Travel Foundation will discuss the business advantages of local sourcing and encouraging tourists to buy local too
Nikki White, ABTA will discuss the contribution which tour operators and Travelife make to enhancing the local.
Teresa Fabian, PricewaterhouseCoopers will draw on experience in the travel, tourism and other industry sectors to explain the business case.
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Does Green certification make a difference – 16.00 – 17.30, NG Room 6/7
There have been major changes in the green certification of tourism businesses in 2010.
World Travel Market brings together some of the leading certifiers - and critics - to discuss the differences.
This session is designed to help all business owners and influencers decide what is the best certification for their operation.
Chairman: Harold Goodwin, International Centre for Responsible Tourism, Leeds, UK
Speakers:
Brad Cox, Green Globe
Andrea Nicholas, Green Tourism Business Scheme
Nikki White, Travelife
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Official WTM WRTD Opening and Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards
10.30 - 12.00, Platinum Suite 4
The official WTM WRTD Opening by Tony Juniper, one of the world’s best known environmentalists and campaigners and hosted by Stephen Sackur, presenter, BBC’s Flagship news and current affairs programme HARDtalk.
Fiona Jeffery, Chairman of World Travel Market and pioneer of responsible tourism over 16 years, will also speak.
Juniper, former director of Friends of the Earth UK, campaigning and rallying public opinion, was also Vice Chair of the 70-strong network of national organisations of Friends of the Earth International.
For the last 25 years Tony has fought to change toward a more sustainable society at local, national and international levels.
A prolific writer, among his many books he wrote the companion volume to the BBC series ‘Saving Planet Earth’ (2007) and ‘How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take To Change A Planet? (2007).
Following straight after the Official WTM WRTD Opening is the presentation of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Travel Awards 2010, the largest awards of their kind in the world. Organised by responsibletravel.com, sponsored by Virgin Holidays and in partnership with Metro Newspaper, World Travel Market and Geographical.
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WRTD Hot Seat - 12.00 - 12.30, Platinum Suite 4
Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resorts International and one of a growing band of thrusting and extremely successful young executives heading up major international travel companies, is in this year’s Hot Seat with TV journalist, Stephen Sackur.
An inspirational and progressive leader, Stewart oversees all areas of operations for the resort empire, founded by his legendary father, Gordon “Butch” Stewart almost thirty years ago. He was appointed CEO in November 2006.
Stewart is also the driving force behind the Sandals Foundation, the resort company’s philanthropic arm which launched last year to provide a platform for life changing community projects, educational programs and environmental preservation on the islands where they operate.
The Caribbean faces many ongoing challenges such as poverty, educational underachievement and access to good healthcare and the Sandals Foundation works to directly target these issues with initiatives as varied as building computer labs and community centres through to the development of training programmes and free health clinics.
A British subject, Adam Stewart was raised in Jamaica and graduated from Florida International University’s acclaimed Hospitality Management Program before implementing his knowledge in various departments within Sandals Resorts.
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WTM WRTD Lunch Sponsored by BBC World News – 12.30 – 14.30, Platinum Suite 3
This lunch is by invitation only - WTM WRTD Lunch sponsored, organised and hosted by BBC World News.
The Gulf of Mexico Oil Disaster: Lessons for the Industry – 14.30-15.00,
Platinum Suite 4
What Are the Lessons of the Biggest Oil Disaster in US History
No one knows the long term results of the Gulf of Mexico catastrophe, where 4.9 million barrels of oil gushed into the sea before the well was permanently capped.
What we do know is the horrifying effect on wildlife and the decline of visitors during the crisis.
The impact on shrimp and fish, crucial to the region’s economy and much loved by hungry tourists the world over, has been worrying.
More than 3,000 birds, 500 sea turtles and 64 dolphins have died. The spawning grounds of the Bluefin tuna is also thought to have been polluted.
Two travel and tourism chiefs who have lived every single day with the dilemmas, traumas and increasing backlash of the accident will be at WTM World Responsible Tourism Day.
Chairman: Stephen Sackur, BBC Presenter, HARDtalk
Speakers:
Lee Sentell, Director, Alabama Tourism
Will Seccombe, Chief Marketing Officer, VISIT FLORIDA
Lance LeFleur, Director, Alabama Department of Environmental Management
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Destinations and Climate Change - 15.00 - 15.30, Platinum Suite 4
In 2009, members of the Maldives Government signed an underwater declaration calling for action to halt climate change.
The almost 1,200 coral islands of the Maldives is an example of a destination likely to disappear unless governments make a concerted effort to protect vulnerable tourism resorts.
Representatives of countries facing possible serious social and economic challenges will engage in high level debate, examining what can be done to address the issues.
Chairman: Stephen Sackur, BBC Presenter, HARDtalk
Speakers:
Gloria Guevara Manzo, Minister of Tourism, Mexico
Dr Ahmed Ali Sawad, Minister of Tourism, Maldives
Taleb Rifia, UNWTO Secretary-General
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Tourism Businesses and Climate Change - 15.30 - 16.30, Platinum Suite 4
The success of global travel and tourism industry relies heavily on water and fossil fuels. But can the industry afford to allow this situation to continue?
What business strategies can hotels and airlines adopt now and in the longer term to address some of the industry’s most difficult dilemmas for the future.
Some technologies exist now, but will the industry commit to the new agenda.
Chairman: Stephen Sachur, BBC Presenter, HARDtalk
Speakers:
Stephen Farrant, International Tourism Partnership (Hotels)
Emma Whittlesea, Sustainability Strategist Tourism South West (Destinations)
Chris Browne, Managing Director, Thomson Airways
WTM WRTD Networking Reception - 16.30 – 18.00 Platinum Suite 3
An unrivalled chance to meet and share views on responsible tourism with experts and those who are new to responsible tourism or are considering responsible tourism activity within their business for the first time.
Sustainable Excursions – 11.00 – 12.00, NG Room 4/5
The EU Package Travel Directive is causing considerable concern within the UK travel industry which believes the document, designed to create a level playing field across Europe, is out dated and beset with problems.
A key issue is the liabilities that the directive imposes on tour operators when offering local excursions, an increasingly important means of helping visitors get closer to a destination and its people.
Aimed at ground handlers and tour operators, this session will examine the experience of local people and their environment as well as visitors who seek new sights, sounds and education, pinpointing the work of the Association of Britain Travel Agents (ABTA).
Chairman: John De Vial, ABTA Ltd, The Travel Association
Speakers:
David Grant, Law Professor
Nikki White, ABTA Ltd, The Travel Association
Alan Lumsden, Insurer
Sue Hurdle, Travel Foundation
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What contribution can tourism make to biodiversity conservation? – 11.00 – 12.00, NG Room 8
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will investigate what tourism contributes.
Awareness of biodiversity, how seriously it is threatened and the implications for human wellbeing, is alarmingly low.
Chairman: Dr Anna Spenceley, Chair, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (Chair of session)
Speakers:
Mr Andrew Retallack, International Sales, &Beyond
Mr Rob Moffett, Conservation and Sustainability, Wilderness Safaris
Mr Matthias Leisinger, Head Corporate Responsibility, Kuoni
Barbara Powell, Senior Director, International Social Responsibility, Marriott Hotels International
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Poverty Private Sector, Beyond Trickledown – 12.30 – 13.30, NG Room 6/7
Many argue that the travel and tourism industry is the world’s largest industry – and the largest employer – yet are we confident that the economically poor in the communities in which we operate, truly benefit.
Four industry businesses, all recognised brand leaders, share their business strategies to go the extra mile.
Chairman: Harold Goodwin, International Centre for Responsible Tourism, Leeds, UK
Speakers:
Heidi Clark, Director of The Sandals Foundation
Richard Hearn, Village Ways
Gavin Bate, Founder of Adventure & Alternative and the Moving Mountains Trust
Amy Carter- James, Guludo & Thin Cats Thinking
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Tourism at Sacred Sites – 14.00 – 15.00 NG Room 8
The world’s most sacred sites are visited by thousands of tourists every year but, apart from their religious faith, what is driving the continued growth of religious and pilgrimage travel to sacred sites?
Increasing numbers of agents are offering religious tours. Consumers seek a more authentic experience, immersing themselves in the spiritual and cultural traditions associated with specific religions and pilgrimage sites.
We examine what are the fundamental forces that drive the increasing demand of religious and pilgrimage travel and what is best practice.
Speakers:
Chairman: Simon Woodward, ICRT (International Centre for Responsible Tourism)
The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, The Dean of Durham Cathedral - talking about Durham Cathedral and the surrounding World Heritage Site
Nayef Al Fayez, Managing Director, Jordan Tourist Board - talking about the Baptism Site in the Jordan Valley
Ozgul Ozkan Yavus, Director for Tourism & Promotion, Istanbul 2010 - talking about the principal mosques in Istanbul
Ms Fleur Burrows, Consumer Marketing Manager, Tourism Northern Territories, Australia, talking about Uluru, the Aboriginal site of Ayers Rock
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