Good news in tourism July 2021
“Good news in tourism” wraps up a month of “Good Tourism” news and content.
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“GT” Travel: Informed inspiration & top tips for travellers
The “GT” Travel Blog encourages tourism insiders to set aside their professional hats, pick up their well-worn (or neglected) travel fanaticism, and share anecdotes, tips, and suggestions with discerning lay travellers. “GT” Travel posts from the month that was:
If sweet treats make you weak, beware these strong women in Siem Reap
“The most exciting thing about this little café is not the excellent food. It’s the human story behind it. […] Every year, some 20 women in very precarious situations are offered a chance to gain vocational skills that will help break the cycle of poverty.” _ Sophie Hartman, ASSET‑H&C, in “If sweet treats make you weak …”
Huế to go for a sweet treat
“[T]he bakery and café operate as a training school for disadvantaged youth […] On the wall facing the bakery counter a map shows where alumni are currently working. It is impressive to see how far their training has taken them, both literally and figuratively.” _ Sophie Hartman, ASSET‑H&C, in “Huế to go for a sweet treat”
The luxury of simply feeling good in Siem Reap
“Sala Baï’s raison d’être [is to] fight poverty and human trafficking in Cambodia. Its social and professional training programs, and board and lodging for those who need it, are offered free-of-charge to underprivileged Cambodians.” _ Nguyễn Thị Thu Thảo, ASSET‑H&C, in “The luxury of simply feeling good in Siem Reap”
Little yurt on the prairie
“Most people fly over this wide-open country on their way to popular destinations […] They give little thought to exploring the hidden gems of the prairie. This is a shame, because APR’s mission is to [protect a] swathe of threatened prairie ecosystem and to restore wildlife” _ Connor Clark in “Little yurt on the prairie”
“GT” Insights: Informed perspectives on the industry
The “Good Tourism” Blog has published informed opinions on the issues facing our industry since 2017. “GT” Insights are diverse perspectives written by, for, and about the industry, because tourism is everyone’s business. “GT” Insights from the month that was:
For the better? Racial diversity, equity, & inclusion in USA tourism
Is the USA’s travel & tourism industry based on ‘white privilege’ and Black exclusion? Stephanie M Jones thinks so. In this “Good Tourism” Insight, Ms Jones explains why she reckons a permanent budget item for racial ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ would make for better tourism: “For the better: Racial diversity, equity, & inclusion in USA tourism”
Overs & unders: Contrasting destination outcomes during COVID-19
Places that rely on tourism are located in nations at different stages of development and different population sizes. When international travel shuts down it is no wonder they have different experiences. Development specialist Jada Lindblom compares Mostar and New Hampshire in “Overs & unders: Contrasting destination outcomes”.
Where next for conservation, ecotourism, & community well-being?
Improved relationships between tourism operations, wildlife, and habitats were starting to deliver more sustainable outcomes in places, including the participation of locals. Then COVID-19 … “GT” Insight Partner Planet Happiness invited Beth Allgood to share her thoughts in “Where next for conservation, ecotourism, & community well-being?”
Is agritourism a more eco-friendly & gender-equitable form of tourism?
Would you pay more for cherries you picked yourself? Respondents in an agritourism study by Erdogan Koc said they would. In this “GT” Insight, Prof Koc summarises the case for agritourism and its potential benefits for the environment and women … and cherry growers: “Is agritourism a more eco-friendly & gender-equitable form of tourism?”
Save to sustain: Frugal innovation & traditional knowledge
Angelo Sciacca was the first guest author to introduce the concept of the circular economy to The “Good Tourism” Blog. In his third “GT” Insight, Mr Sciacca adds ‘frugal innovation’ and ‘traditional knowledge’ to his recipe for resilient small island destinations: “Save to sustain: Frugal innovation & traditional knowledge in circular tourism”
Wild urban spaces: Rethinking ecotourism as a mass tourism product
What if the ‘mass’ travel & tourism activities of cities and citizens were ‘sustainable’? Could any of it be counted as ‘ecotourism’? While Westerners may struggle with the notion, East Asians get it. Sudipta K Sarkar explains in his first “GT” Insight: “Wild urban spaces: Rethinking ecotourism as a mass tourism product”
And the most important colleagues in a CBT project are …
… community members, of course! In his second “GT” Insight, community-based and sustainable tourism consultant Peter Richards reflects on the most important thing he has learned during his career so far, and how to make it so. “And the most important colleagues in a community-based tourism project are …”
How community homestays contribute to experiential tourism in Nepal
Aayusha Prasain explains how community-based homestays in Nepal offer a more authentic experience, spread the benefits of travel & tourism, and may even promote local culture and heritage among young people, in “How community homestays contribute to experiential travel & tourism in Nepal”.
How can tourism protect & promote mangroves?
Kevin Phun passes a sustainability lens over concerns about mangrove forests to determine what it would take for our travel & tourism industry to be a responsible contributor to protecting and restoring them. It’s his third “GT” Insight. “How can tourism protect & promote mangroves?”
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Good news from friends
Good news in travel & tourism from the wonderful organisations that make “GT” possible. Here is some of what happened this month in the “Good Tourism” network:
Goldfields dig for happiness insights as part of World Heritage bid
Residents of the Central Goldfields region in Victoria, Australia have been taking an online survey about their quality of life. Results will help determine how tourism might strengthen host community well-being. The survey is powered by Planet Happiness.
WTACH guides new study into Athens’ tourism carrying capacity
The World Tourism Association for Culture & Heritage and the University of Piraeus have started studying the carrying capacity of Athens, Greece in a partnership with the Athens Development & Destination Management Agency. Press release.
JOB VACANCY: ASSET‑H&C seeks Partnership Officer based in HCM City
ASSET‑H&C is looking to fill the position of Partnership Officer. Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the role encompasses capacity-building in fields related to sustainability as well as the development, management, and promotion of partnerships. LinkedIn post.
SUNx launches September summer school program
The SUNx Program’s “Summer School” is a five-day, 30-hour course that runs each week through September. A “faculty of travel & tourism and climate change thought-leaders” will deliver online lectures on “key components of Climate Friendly Travel”. More info.
CRTS to talk SDGs in Sarawak State Library webinar
Kevin Phun of The Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore will speak about sustainable tourism, jobs, and culture at a Pustaka Negeri Sarawak (Sarawak State Library) virtual event, August 6, 1430 (+8 UTC). Register.
Tanner C Knorr advocates low-season travel in Nepal
In a video about overtourism in Nepal, Tanner C Knorr talks about how low-season or off-peak travel can help mitigate the phenomenon. The founder of “GT” Partners Second Look Worldwide and Off Season Adventures is introduced from 2m:50s into the video.
Hospitality and catering students exchange recipes
Students from the Paul Dubrule hospitality school, an ASSET‑H&C member in Cambodia, and a French school sent each other recipes as part of a cultural exchange program. The recipes: Matcha tea pancakes, pomelo salad, and fish amok. Facebook video.
ASSET‑H&C leads ‘gender-sensitive practices’ workshop
ASSET‑H&C led exchanges on gender-sensitive practices during a workshop at the annual conference of MedNC (Mediterranean New Chance) Network. The online session was co-facilitated by IECD, ASSET‑H&C, and a Tunisian association.
ASSET‑H&C holds ‘gender mainstreaming’ workshops
The team members of four ASSET‑H&C member schools — the Bayon Pastry School, Don Bosco Hotel School, HCTC, and Sala Baï — shared experiences, practices, and ideas about “gender mainstreaming” in recent weeks. Facebook video.
Geoffrey Lipman keynotes ‘YOUNGO Asia Climate Week’
SUNx co-founder Geoffrey Lipman spoke at an event for YOUNGO, a UNFCCC youth group. His message: “[Climate change is] a long, slow, but certain death.”
More positively, applications for the Climate Friendly Travel Diploma’s second intake are open. Here are clips from some of the lectures.
The importance of good partnerships
Many commentators would like to see destinations recover from the COVID-19 depression focused on quality rather than quantity. That would be nice, of course, if host communities want that. However, some or many extant tourism stakeholders will likely go out of business. Don’t let one of those be you.
Seek out good partnerships with those who make you their priority.
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Tourism is everyone’s business. Travel is everyone’s pleasure.
Freedom of movement is a basic human right. And the tourism industry is everyone’s business. “Everyone” includes not only those who earn a living from the travel & tourism industry, but also people who travel, and people who live in places travelled to and through. EVERYONE. Please share “Good news in tourism” and “GT” Travel with your friends and colleagues. And dive deeper into “Good Tourism” Insights for ideas on how to make sustainable tourism and responsible travel better … for you, for your people, and for your place. For they are your people. And it is your place.
Stay healthy, smile, have a good week … And when you travel, remember:
It’s not ‘no’. It’s ‘know’.
Featured image (top of post): Summer in Tokyo. By Ryunosuke Kikuno (CC0) via Unsplash.
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