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The Larrakia Declaration on the Development of Indigenous Tourism
May 11, 2012
The first Pacific Asia Indigenous Tourism Conference was held in Darwin, on the traditional lands of the Larrakia people on the 28th – 30th March , 2012, where 191 delegates from 16 countries representing Indigenous communities, government agencies, the tourism industry and supporting bodies, resolved to adopt principles to guide the development of indigenous tourism through the following declaration. Recognising that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted on the 13th September 2007, provides the foundation for this declaration Recognising that often Indigenous people are marginalized, disadvantaged and remote from the opportunity for social, economic and political advancement Recognising that whilst tourism provides the strongest driver to restore, protect and promote Indigenous cultures, it has the potential to diminish and destroy those cultures when improperly developed Recognising that as the world becomes increasingly homogenous Indigenous... Read More →
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Indigenous Tourism: The Heartbeat of Experience Authenticity
May 10, 2012
Assistant Editor’s Note: This article authored by Anita Mendiratta of CNN Task Group was originally published on eTurboNews and is re-posted here with permission. Canadian by birth, having held strategic leadership positions in Fortune 5 companies including IBM, Unilever and The Coca-Cola Company, Anita Mendiratta now leads CACHET Consulting, a successful international strategic consulting firm focused on tourism and economic development. Trusted and respected at local, national and international levels, CACHET Consulting prides itself in providing its global government and private sector clients with solid solutions for nation-building. As stated by Dr Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), “Anita Mendiratta’s ability to convey the importance of tourism in terms of its economic value comes second only to her capacity to reveal the very human side of tourism; the countless human interactions which represent the true essence... Read More →
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Special Needs/Accessible Travel Segment Now a Mainstream Market; Travel Professionals With Accessible Travel Training Have Advantage
May 2, 2012
Accessible Travel is the Fastest-Growing Segment in Travel as Baby Boomers Retire, Number of Individuals with Special Needs Increase Dania Beach, FL – As the Baby Boomer generation has started to retire and will continue to over the next 20 years, and the number of individuals with special needs continues to increase, the accessible travel segment is taking the travel industry by storm and will only continue to grow. In fact, it is the fastest-growing segment in the travel industry. This once-considered niche market is now very much mainstream. Therefore, it is more important than ever for travel professionals to have the knowledge, skills, and communication abilities to tap into the accessible market. Twenty percent (63 million) of Americans have a disability, and approximately 10 million aged 15 and older use a walking aid such as a cane or walker. This group may include many “slow walker” individuals who don’t consider themselves disabled, but who could benefit... Read More →
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International Women’s Day 2012: Perspectives from Women in Tourism
March 14, 2012
Assistant Editor’s Note: March 8th was International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate respect, appreciation, equality and love towards women worldwide. Recognized by the United Nations, this year’s theme was: Empower Rural Women – End Hunger & Poverty. Tourism, one of the largest industries on earth, is a fundamental lifeline and vital to the livelihood of countless countries globally. It possesses the power to stimulate and strengthen economies, create employment opportunities and foster financial security, in addition to battling poverty and building a stable future. In honor of International Women’s Day, we asked three female leaders in tourism to answer questions about the our industry’s role in empowering women. The following is the response from Malia Asfour (Director, Jordan Tourism Board North America), Manal S. Kelig (Co- founder of Gateway To Egypt for Travel Marketing in the Middle East & Great Wonders of Egypt for sustainable travel to Egypt,... Read More →
Business Insights Must Read/View Social Media
Three Social Media Predictions For 2012
January 18, 2012
A recent article on Forbes.com, by Avi Savar, Founder and CCO of Big Fuel, a social media agency that is part of Publicis Groupe, discusses three trends and tools to watch in 2012 in the ever-evolving landscape of social media. 1. Geo-Gaming – Savar predicts that 2012 will be the year that geo-location technology – which allows consumers to ‘check-in’ on social media sites – goes transactional, while also allowing relationships between brands and consumer to become more personalized: This is a game-changer for retailers because it enables them to put potential consumers in the context of time and place and more effectively influence purchase intent…The context of the offline world is crucial for marketers so they know what kind of message to deliver and how to interact with a customer at any given time. Is my potential customer in front of a store or on the couch? Is that person with people or alone? Savar explains that geo-location will transition... Read More →
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What International Aid Can’t Do
December 14, 2011
The Central Hotel, in North Australia, was destroyed in a cyclone and repaired by an influx of tourism afterward. Photo courtesy Jan Smith. In his recent article in The Atlantic, Joshua Foust acknowledges that the international community excels at disaster relief – at least the kind that comes in the days and weeks following a disaster. The bigger question he poses is how we can support the most important long-term recovery tool needed by disaster-leveled areas: “healthy business environments” that allow for entrepreneurial endeavor. Too often, he argues, the economic infrastructure of local areas hit hard by either man-made or natural disasters tend to stagnate or fail to re-build at all – leaving an area dependent on aid and fertile for violence and strife. In the article, he explores the complexity of this matter through the lens of several case studies – the Uzbek communities of Osh, Kyrgyzstan, the rural country of Belarus, and the civil-war torn Tajikistan.... Read More →
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The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism
December 11, 2011
Assistant Editor’s Note: The following content is from the World Tourism Organization’s (UNTWO) website, and is posted here because of the topic’s relevance to our industry audience. The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism sets a frame of reference for the responsible and sustainable development of world tourism. It draws inspiration from many similar declarations and industry codes that have come before and it adds new thinking that reflects our changing society at the beginning of the 21st century. With international tourism forecast to reach 1.6 billion arrivals by 2020, members of the World Tourism Organization believe that the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is needed to help minimize the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and on cultural heritage while maximizing the benefits for residents of tourism destinations. The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism is intended to be a living document. Read it. Circulate it widely. Participate in its implementation.... Read More →
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Travel Industry Must Develop Long-term Thinking if it is to Survive the Many Tests in the Future
November 15, 2011
The travel industry needs to become more forward thinking if it is to survive the tests thrown at it in the future, delegates at World Travel Market heard onWednesday 9 November. That is the message of Leo Hickman, journalist and author of The Final Call which examined the trade’s attitudes to responsible tourism and sustainability, who was in the HOTseat for World Responsible Tourism Day for this year’s World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry. With the industry predicted to explode in numbers as the Chinese and Indian markets emerge, he said the industry must be better prepared to cope with the numbers and protect the destinations. He said: “I can’t emphasise enough how little evidence there is about what people are doing for the future. “To me that is indicative of an industry that totally lives in the present , it doesn’t look to the future “It is incredibly short term thinking, to totally believe everything is going to... Read More →
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Ministers of Tourism of Major World Economies Call on Decision-Makers to Use Tourism to Stimulate the Economy
November 15, 2011
The Ministers of Tourism of the major economies meeting in Paris for the 3rd T20 Ministers’ Meeting have called on decision-makers to consider tourism within their strategies to foster the economy and when facing mounting challenges, namely that of job creation (Paris, France, 25 October 2011). The meeting approved a declaration calling on members of the G20 to “register the importance and impact of tourism as a topic of discussion in the coming years’ summits” considering the “significant economic and social potential of tourism for the global economy, employment and sustainable development”. “We need to convince our decision-makers of the importance of tourism to the economy and employment,” said Mr. Frederic Lefebvre, Minister of Tourism of France, opening the meeting. “In these challenging times, we need to maximize our strengths and tourism is one of them,” he added. “Tourism can be part of the solution to the economic difficulties facing the world,” said... Read More →
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An Open Letter From the Global Sustainable Tourism Council
October 12, 2011
Assistant Editor’s Note: The ATTA received this letter and would like to pass it on to our readership. To access the full letter, please open the PDF. Dear GSTC Member, The Secretariat would like to bring to your attention an open letter co-authored by GSTC Chair, Dr. Kelly Bricker and GSTC Executive Director, Erika Harms. The purpose of the letter is to again correct misinformation circulated by critics of the GSTC Criteria and to invite our critics to join us in direct dialogue. As the letter states, we have actively worked to respond to concerns raised in our community. However, we felt it appropriate to once again address the misinformation as it hurts both our common mission, creates avoidable division and can put our members in an awkward position. Please take a moment to review the letter and let us know if you have any questions or concerns. If you know some of our critics please provide them with an open invitation to join us in proactive dialogue. Kind regards, Janice... Read More →
