Good news in tourism June 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:
Immersed in the Amazon
“I recently journeyed to the Brazilian Amazon and experienced three days immersed in the environment and culture with the help of Wellington, my interpretive guide. I hope this blog post inspires others to take similar experiential journeys.” _ Tourism scholar Angelo Sciacca in “Immersed in the Amazon”
Drop a beat when you eat in Ho Chi Minh City
“If I had to describe in three words the city that raised me, one would be ‘food’ […] Saigon’s food scene is what my heart aches for the most when I leave home.” _ Hospitality insider Nguyễn Thị Thu Thảo in “Drop a beat when you eat in Ho Chi Minh City”.
“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:
Thailand’s tourism elephants lose when pragmatism gives way to politics
Pre-COVID “some elephant and camp owners — more than I expected — had begun to design business models with activists’ concerns in mind. However, as peer-reviewed studies were starting to show — and as I expected — they did not necessarily improve elephant well-being.” _ John Roberts, elephant expert, in “Thailand’s tourism elephants lose when pragmatism gives way to politics, ideology”.
REDUX: How to make a hotel green & responsible: Get on with it!
“We don’t follow any rules from green organisations as they just cost money. This works against being green and clean as they charge a lot just to have their names associated with a place.” _ John Morris Williams, hospitality professional and co-founder of “GT” Destination Partner We Are Lao, in “How to make a hotel green & responsible: Get on with it!”. It includes a short update by the author.
Towards a new paradigm for regenerative tourism and just futures
“[The] screeching brake on our easily taken-for-granted freedom of movement has fortunately opened up a space to envision a more just and equitable world …” Academic Tazim Jamal summarises the opportunities that she sees for ‘healing’, ‘justice’, and ‘equity’ as our industry recovers from the COVID-induced depression: “Towards a new paradigm for regenerative tourism and just futures”
REDUX: Is Antarctica the best-managed tourism destination in the world?
In terms of sustainability, Thomas Bauer thinks it is. The control measures Dr Bauer summarises in his post “have ensured that Antarctic tourism is the best-managed in the world”. COVID-19 notwithstanding, the content of this 2017 “GT” Insight remains relevant and Dr Bauer reckons other destinations can learn a lot. So, “Is Antarctica the best-managed tourism destination in the world?”
Can transformational tourism help solve the mental health crisis?
There is little doubt that many of us are happiest when we are on the move. Is tourism scholar Rohan Bhalla correct in thinking that our industry could be part of the solution to the world’s mental health crisis? “Can transformational tourism help solve the post-COVID mental health crisis?”
REDUX: How tourism & fishing help save Irrawaddy dolphins in Myanmar
Given the political situation in Myanmar, COVID-19 notwithstanding, “GT” was concerned about the fate of the Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project. Paul Eshoo penned a short update to his January 2020 “GT” Insight: “How tourism & fishing help save Irrawaddy dolphins in Myanmar”
A ‘year of hell’, wanderlust, and the supermarket of beautiful places
If sustainability is ever going to be more than fantasy, tourists and the tourism industry need to treat international travel as a privilege and place a higher value on domestic destinations, according to veteran consultant Bert van Walbeek in “A ‘year of hell’, pent-up wanderlust, and the supermarket of beautiful places”.
REDUX: Going off track to find the right path for Himalayan tourism
Vandana Vijay advocates for experiential travel and sustainable community-based ecotourism in India, especially among rural communities in the Himalayas. With a COVID-relevant update for 2021, Ms Vijay shares how she walks the talk in “Going off track to find the right path for Himalayan tourism”.
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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:
CABI Tourism Cases becomes a “GT” Partner
CABI Tourism Cases and “GT recognise the interesting contrasts between CABI’s growing database of peer-reviewed case studies and “GT’s” glowing platform for individuals’ informed and/or experience-based tourism industry insights. There are synergies too. Both CABI and “GT” want to connect the dots between theory and practice, rhetoric and reality for a better travel & tourism industry.
ASSET‑H&C becomes a “GT” Insight Partner
Introducing the Association of Southeast Asian Social Enterprises for Training in Hospitality & Catering (ASSET‑H&C), a new “GT” Insight Partner. ASSET‑H&C’s members do wonderful work with disadvantaged, under-privileged, and vulnerable youth in Southeast Asia. Expect fresh, inspiring, and insightful “GT” and “GT” Travel content related to that good work.
“GT” Partners to jointly support UN SDGs, climate-friendly travel
On World Environment Day, June 5, The SUNx Program launched “Climate Friendly Travel to Zero” to help travel & tourism stakeholders reach the goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, beating the mainstream norm of net zero. A few days later, Planet Happiness announced the signing of a MOU with SUNx under which they will work together partnering with destinations on “climate-friendly travel” and “the well-being agenda”: ’ ”GT” Partners to jointly support UN SDGs, climate-friendly travel’
Prioritising well-being in travel & tourism
“As tourism stakeholders, if we truly value and believe in this life-changing industry, if we want to advocate its merits and ability to deliver the UN SDGs, we need to recognise the imperative to value and measure travel and tourism’s contribution to destination well-being.” _ Paul Rogers of “GT” Insight Partner Planet Happiness, in “Prioritising well-being in travel & tourism”.
Why Khiri Travel signed up to the SUNx Climate Friendly Travel Registry
Willem Niemeijer’s YAANA Ventures is the parent company of “GT” Partners Anurak Community Lodge, Cardamom Tented Camp, and Khiri Travel. Mark Bibby Jackson of SUNx interviewed Mr Niemeijer about, among other things, why Khiri Travel signed up to the Climate Friendly Travel Registry.
Laos tourism: Seminar, stats, and easing restrictions
“GT” Destination Partner We Are Lao reported on recent goings-on in the Lao travel trade: A tourism and hospitality webinar, easing of restrictions after a rigid six-week COVID lockdown, and the publication of the “Statistical Report on Tourism in Laos 2020”.
Ethically yours: Silver Naga, Vang Vieng, Laos
Rachel Dechaineux uses ‘ethical’ a lot, both in word and in deed, because she feels that tourism is all about people. This is the fourth Sustainable Tourism Laos Showcase by Bernie Rosenbloom of “Good Tourism” Destination Partner WeAreLao: “Ethically yours: Silver Naga, Vang Vieng, Laos”
Outrigger goes big on World Oceans Month this June
In honour of World Oceans Month this June, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts is eager to continue its support in protecting and sustaining the oceans and the species that inhabit them. Outrigger’s “making big waves for global change” in “Outrigger goes big on World Oceans Month this June”.
CRTS’ virtual tours gather momentum
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore (CRTS) has ‘pivoted’ towards offering virtual tours through a ‘responsible’ lens. Marketed initially to CRTS chief Kevin Phun’s friends and family, the tours have started to gather momentum more broadly. Each tour represents an opportunity for an otherwise unemployed tour guide somewhere in the world to earn a little money..
ASSET‑H&C facilitates intercontinental cultural exchange between students
“GT” Partner ASSET‑H&C and the French NGO Apprentis d’Auteuil are leveraging technology to encourage cultural exchange across borders. To kick things off, students of KOTO, an ASSET‑H&C member in Hanoi, Vietnam and students of Ecole Hôtelière Sainte Thérèse in Paris, France produced videos to introduce each other.
Cambodian students among finalists of Accor’s Take Off!
Students from École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule, an ASSET‑H&C member in Cambodia, have reached the final of Accor’s Take Off! Challenge 2021, a global competition. Their project empowers women to turn plastic waste into handmade products.
WTA expands into China, North America
Worldwide Travel Alliance has added representatives in China and North America to its global network of sales, marketing, PR, and communications professionals. They and their global colleagues stand ready to represent your travel & tourism brand.
SUN shines in Europe
The SUNx Program has signed a MOU with the European Travel Commission to build “Climate Friendly Travel” into ETC members’ plans. SUNx has appointed Cinzia De Marzo as its “Strong Climate Envoy” in Europe to work with “EU institutions to support the Green Deal in the Travel & Tourism Sector”.
USD 100,000+ raised, hundreds of elephants helped: Work for Wild Life
“GT” Insight Partner Work for Wild Life International reports that its team has raised more than USD 100,000 and helped hundreds of elephants in Thailand, Laos, Nepal, and India with veterinary care, food, supplements, and general welfare since April 2020. But there’s more to do. Download the report (PDF).
Proud to be a teacher
“Being a teacher requires dedication, patience and an open heart,” according to ASSET‑H&C. Learn why Youn Chamrong is proud to be an English Teacher at the Bayon Pastry School Coffee Shop in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
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.
“GT” is a good partner. Please verify that with a “GT” Partner and then ask about partnership opportunities. There’s a partnership opportunity for everyone — big or small; public or private; commercial or not-for-profit — because travel & tourism is everyone’s business. All “GT” Partners enjoy: a 85 x 85 “Good Partner” button; input into “GT’s” curated list of worthy charitable causes “Friends indeed”; and the outstanding opportunity every week to contribute positive news items to the “GT” newsletter.
Friends indeed
“Friends indeed” are worthy travel & tourism industry fundraisers and charitable causes that are associated with or suggested by “GT” Partners or guest authors. Please help them if you can. Share the page with your networks. And link to it from your website.
Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project
Based on Paul Eshoo’s update to his “GT” Insight, “GT” added the Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project to “Friends indeed”. LIDP is doing what it can without tourism to protect the critically-endangered river dolphins and to help locals in the Ayeyarwady Dolphin Protected Area in Myanmar. Check out “Friends indeed”.
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): Walpole Inlet, Western Australia. Photo by David Gillbanks (CC by 4.0).
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