The need for sustainable tourism and responsible travel is clear and immediate. There is a need to make many changes in the tourism system and we need to do it now. But – how do we make the greatest impact? In responding to this question, I feel stuck between two scientists that I greatly admire. Jane Goodall captured my imagination almost 50 years ago when I first read about her a primary school reader. She has been an inspiration ever since and I often quote her: What you do makes a...

04 August, 2021 /

Last week there were massive wildfires, once-in-a-thousand-year floods, and ongoing droughts. The impacts of climate change are evident across the globe. And in each place, tourism will be affected in some way. It almost seems unnecessary to say climate change will impact the tourism system, and any discussion of sustainable tourism needs to consider the impacts of climate change. And it doesn't work to say – "let's deal with one first, then we can get to the other." Climate change and sustainability are inextricably connected. Address climate change, and you...

26 July, 2021 /

Which jobs in tourism require knowledge of sustainability? All of them (At least in the United States). When the Dept of Labor, working with The National Travel and Tourism Office of the Dept of Commerce and a team of experts from across the industry, developed the job competency model for Hospitality, Tourism, and Events, sustainability was a required competency right across the industry. Sustainability is included with other industry-wide competencies such as operations management, marketing and sales, safety and security, and understanding of key industry principles and concepts. It is...

22 July, 2021 /

Destinations, where sustainable tourism is thriving, have a range of programs that contribute to the sustainability of the destination community. It is important to note that these programs aren’t just activities that the Destination Management Organization runs – they can be initiated by a range of organizations (some of which may not even consider themselves part of the tourism Industry. During some recent analysis of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Destination Criteria I conducted with Jennifer Romanchek, we identified the following programs that represent a foundation for destination-based sustainable...

16 July, 2021 /

Sustainability is a team activity. No single company creates a sustainable tourism experience – we each rely on each of our travel partners to do their part in making sure the final consumer experience is sustainable. By taking responsibility for our own businesses and encouraging our suppliers and customers to adopt sustainable tourism, all tourism businesses can contribute to a better future. A supply chain is simply the businesses that contribute components to a final product. For example, let us say you bought a vacation to an island resort...

14 July, 2021 /

It is fantastic to see so many people talking about various types of sustainable and ethical tourism. The energy and enthusiasm for positive change is starting to gain traction and all around the world, there are destinations, companies, and people making a difference. As we race forward it is important to remember the work that has already been done so we avoid "reinventing the wheel". For instance, did you know there is a Code of Ethics for Tourism? The Code of Ethics has 10 “articles” and outlines...

14 July, 2021 /

While there are many great initiatives that can be taken to achieve sustainable tourism, it is important to remember that sustainable tourism requires a policy framework to achieve its objectives. Policies that enable sustainable tourism are often developed by folks that do not consider themselves part of tourism, and many of the policies are not tourism or hospitality related. So what policies does the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) say are required for a sustainable destination? In a recent analysis of the GSTC Destination Criteria I carried out with...

09 July, 2021 /

Scope Three carbon reporting is gaining importance and suppliers of business travel need to be ready. So what is scope 3 and why is it important? As concern for the climate crisis increases, many corporations are committing to measuring – and reducing – their carbon footprints. The Greenhouse Gases (GHG) that corporations produce are categorized within three “scopes” that are measured - and hopefully the focus of reduction strategies. Scope 1 measures the GHG that the company produces itself as it makes its products and services. Scope 2 measures...

06 July, 2021 /

The challenge of decarbonizing hospitality is one of the great challenges our industry faces. It is important that we consider the actions that will have the greatest impact on our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, the things we talk about most frequently are not the things that have the biggest impact. Here are just a few steps to decarbonizing tourism - the most commonly discussed first, the most impactful last. Green operations: So much of our conversation focuses on improving our energy efficiency and reducing our carbon footprint through our...

30 June, 2021 /

2021 will be remembered as a reset year. After decades of tourism growth, the pandemic delivered a devasting year for our industry and now we are starting to make our way forward again. It's not going to be the same, but can it be better? As we get ready for the new normal – here are a couple of priorities for the coming years. Building back better takes leadership that balances the immediate with the strategic. Focusing on the short-term without attention to the long-term – or vice versa...

28 June, 2021 /
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