WRTD 2008 Review

For the second year WTM World Responsible Tourism Day (WTM WRTD), in association with the UNWTO and supported by leading international industry associations such as PATA and the World Travel & Tourism Council provided the travel industry with a full day of hard-hitting truths to increase awareness about responsible tourism.

The WTM WRTD Opening Ceremony saw Mark Edwards showcase his critically acclaimed presentation, which set a series of hard-hitting environmental images to Bob Dylan’s classic ‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’.

Other highlights included:

Respected BBC journalist Stephen Sackur and current affairs programme HARDtalk presenter Stephen Sackur quizzing Marriott International President Ed Fuller on the hotel chain’s commitment to responsible tourism. Other sessions throughout the day focused on the role that operators and hoteliers can and should be playing in developing the sustainable tourism agenda and the issues they can impact and influence.

View full 2008 event programme

The Virgin Holiday’s Responsible Tourism Awards, the most prestigious awards of their kind, attracted a record number of nominations with more than 1,900 travellers sharing their experiences on the industry’s most responsible organisations.

New Zealand scooped the overall prize, with TUI’s Head of Sustainable Development Jane Aston honoured for her personal contribution to promoting responsible tourism.

Click here to view the 2008 awards winners

Last year a record 148 travel companies successfully applied for a WTM WRTD logo, which demonstrates a commitment to responsible tourism.

"UK tour operators are increasingly concerned to ensure that the suppliers they do business with - inbound operators and accommodation providers alike - share their commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism. Using the WTMWRTD logo is one way of getting yourself noticed at WTM" 

Jane Ashton, Head of Sustainable Development, TUI Travel PLC

Click here to view WTM WRTD 2008 video