Good news in travel & tourism September 2022
“Good news in travel & tourism” wraps up a month of “Good Tourism” & “GT” Travel news, insights, and experiences.
Share it as you would a bottle of wine.
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- “Good Tourism” Insights
- “Good Tourism” Insight Bites
- “Good Tourism” Travel Experiences
- Good news from friends
Global | Africa | Asia | Europe - Friends indeed
“Good Tourism” is where free thought travels
Did you ever want to write a thoughtful piece about the state of the tourism industry; how we got here; how we can make it better (or avoid the worst)?
Has a lack of confidence in your writing held you back? Well, please don’t let it.
Your correspondent is here to help you publish your “GT” Insight, just as I’ve helped professors translate their Academese into plain English; just as I’ve helped those for whom English is their second (or more) language.
If you submit a draft that complies with the simple “GT” Insight guidelines, I will personally copy edit your work and ensure that you are happy with it before I click ‘Publish’.
It’s part of “GT’s” mission to offer a platform for truly diverse perspectives.
“GT” Insights: Informed perspectives on the industry
The “Good Tourism” Blog publishes informed opinions on the issues facing the travel & tourism industry, everyone’s business. “GT” Insights are diverse perspectives written by, for, and about our sector. Here are the most recent:
Tourism’s resilience relies on sustainable, regenerative, needs-based models
For tourism destinations and service providers to survive and thrive in the face of current and looming challenges they must become more resilient, according to K Michael Haywood. Prof Haywood argues that this can be achieved by democratising ‘communities-as-destinations’ and enacting principles of sustainability and regeneration, in “Tourism’s resilience relies on sustainable, regenerative, needs-based models”.
“GT” Insight Bites: Diverse perspectives on important topics
A “GT” Insight Bites post is a collection of short written responses to an identical set of propositions and/or questions that The “Good Tourism” Blog puts to a diverse range of travel & tourism stakeholders. Here are the most recent:
Want a career in tourism? Important things you should know
In 2022, what is the most important thing that a young person should understand before embarking upon a career in tourism?
My thanks to all 17 respondents. Their answers appear in the order received.
- Saverio Francesco Bertolucci — Know your mission, embrace your vision
- Wolfgang Georg Arlt — Expect volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity
- Jada Lindblom — ‘Work hard, play hard’ for now … but later?
- K Michael Haywood — What I have learned that I didn’t know then
- Jonathon Day — Sustainability is foundational
- Richard A Shepard — Understand your motivation, stick to a plan
- Jim Butcher — ‘Humani nihil a me alienum puto’
- Karen Simmonds — Tourism is a ‘people industry’
- Sophie Hartman — Flexibility, adaptability is essential
- Enrique Blanco — Lifelong learning, e‑business, and digital trends
- Ivana Damnjanović — ‘Be aware of change, ride its wave, and be its agent’
- Maria Golubovskaya — ‘Opportunities!’
- Melanie Kay Smith — Be humble. Be patient.
- Willem Niemeijer — Tourism’s ‘survival lies in sustainability’
- Kevin Phun — ‘Be both a generalist and a specialist’
- Angelo Sciacca — ‘Fully embrace the concept of resilience’
- Edwin Magio — ‘Education is not enough’
- What do you think?
Really, what’s the difference? ‘Sustainable tourism’ vs ‘regenerative tourism’
In destination and industry practice, what is (are) the difference(s) between ‘sustainable tourism’ and ‘regenerative tourism’?
My thanks to all 13 respondents. Their answers appear in the order received.
- Loretta Bellato — Nine differences
- Wolfgang Georg Arlt — Entropy is a law of nature
- Tim Russell — ‘Sustainability is the bare minimum one should expect’
- Greg Bakunzi — ‘Where we work, there is no great difference’
- Saverio Francesco Bertolucci — All negatives ‘finally solved and overcome’
- K Michael Haywood — ‘We’re obliged to do a lot more than just maintain’
- Phoebe Everingham — Is ‘sustainability’ still viable?
- Sudipta K Sarkar — In the urban context they are much the same
- Susan Eardly — Take responsibility
- Melanie Kay Smith — Old wine. New bottles.
- Debbie Clarke — ‘To regenerate is to heal’
- Jonathon Day — Regenerative approaches add new energy
- Edwin Magio — ‘What kind of tourism do we need post pandemic?’
- What do you think?
Previous “GT” Insight Bites:
- Want a career in tourism? Important things you should know
- Diverse perspectives on travel & tourism and a fairer world
- Diverse perspectives on economic degrowth and tourism
- Diverse perspectives on visitor dispersion
“GT” Travel Experiences: Informed inspiration for travellers
The “Good Tourism” Blog’s young sibling The “GT” Travel Blog publishes informed inspiration and top tips for travellers from tourism insiders. Here are the most recent “GT” Travel Experiences:
Wonders of the unexpected: Pleasant surprises in Azerbaijan & Saudi Arabia
“In all my travels, the two countries that took me most by surprise (in a positive way) were Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia. They weren’t what I was expecting at all, and I would go back to both in a heartbeat. […] I departed both places with not only the memories of great experiences but also completely different opinions. That’s why I have always loved travel.” _ Dr Mario Hardy, MD of MAP2VENTURES and former CEO of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, in “Wonders of the unexpected: Pleasant surprises in Azerbaijan & Saudi Arabia”
Planning a trip to Colombia? Here’s why you should visit the coffee region
“The various regions of Colombia are vastly different from each other. Travellers looking to avoid ‘overtourism’ and embrace ‘authenticity’ should consider exploring the nation’s coffee-growing region in the Andes Mountains. During my two and a half weeks in Colombia, August 2022, I visited that region, as well as the cities of Medellin and Cartagena. Here are some reasons (aside from the coffee) for why I would advise travellers with limited time to focus on the Colombian Andes and only one of those two cities …” _ Annaleigh Bonds, The Responsible Adventurer, in “Planning a trip to Colombia? Here’s why you should visit the coffee region”
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:
Global news from friends
World Tourism Day marks launch of Climate Friendly Travel podcast
Published September 28, 2022: SUNx Malta has launched a new podcast series designed to help tourism companies and communities stay on target for the Paris 1.5°C limit.
Announcing this on World Tourism Day, September 27, SUNx Malta President Professor Geoffrey Lipman said: “Our goal is to encourage tourism stakeholders to take concrete actions to respond to the Code Red Climate Crisis and publicly stand behind them.”
Continue reading at “World Tourism Day marks launch of CFT podcast”.
Vale Mikhail Gorbachev, planetary hero
Published September 3, 2022: Mikhail Gorbachev died on August 30th, 2022.
The former President of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) is best remembered as the man who engineered the peaceful transformation of the USSR and the opening of the Berlin Wall.
Less known is the fact that during his incredible life he collaborated closely with Maurice Strong. Together they launched the Earth Charter — a compact between planet and people — and promoted it around the world.
Continue reading at “Vale Mikhail Gorbachev, planetary hero”.
Be a ‘Climate Friendly Travel’ leader
“What if you could be a leading example of how the travel and tourism industry can implement climate-friendly measures?” As a CFT Registry member, gain access to SUNx’ innovation, strategy, learning, and visibility hubs. Learn more about the CFT Registry at ClimateFriendly.Travel.
News from friends in Africa
10th Rwandan cultural festival opens new community tourism body, promotes gorilla pledge
Published September 9, 2022: The Red Rocks 10th Anniversary Cultural Festival, August 26-September 2, brought organisations and communities together to celebrate and promote Rwandan culture, conservation, and sustainable tourism.
During the festival, Red Rocks were delighted to host the grand opening of the new Rwanda Community Tourism Association (RCTA) office.
And, throughout the week, in partnership with International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP), the Festival promoted the Gorilla Friendly Pledge campaign.
Continue reading at “10th Rwandan cultural festival opens new community tourism body, promotes gorilla pledge”.
Red Rocks to share Arts for Conservation model with neighbours
Red Rocks Initiative plans to expand its Arts for Conservation initiative to areas of the Virunga massif in Congo and Uganda via its Transboundary Initiative; an exciting time for the Rwanda-based organisation as they share the success of their sustainable trade methodology with neighbouring communities.
Red Rocks opens kindergarten for vulnerable kids
Red Rocks Initiative in Rwanda has opened a kindergarten in Nyakinama village, Musanze district. Some 150 children between the ages of three and five years are enrolled to receive an holistic early childhood education. Most come from vulnerable families in this tourism-rich area.
News from friends in Asia
Selling trips to Asia? Khiri explains why you should use a DMC
If you’re a travel agent or tour operator selling travel experiences, Khiri Travel has identified nine compelling reasons to use a destination management company (DMC) when sending clients to Asia. (Meet the Khiri team at World Travel Market, Further East, and/or Mekong Tourism Forum.)
Khiri is hiring. And catch up with Khiri at regional, global trade events
As travel recovers, Khiri Travel is hiring for positions in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Khiri will also be at major travel trade events in the coming months, starting with the Mekong Tourism Forum (Vietnam) in October and continuing with WTM, Further East, and ITB. Catch up with Khiri.
Hike the hunting trails of Khao Sok
Anurak Community Lodge can take you hiking. There are the old hunting trails in Khao Sok National Park: “[E]xplore one of the oldest forest ecosystems in the world [with] a local guide.” There is also the Anurak Trail, “a one-kilometre circular hike starting and finishing at the Lodge that enters a small cave and finishes with a walk through coffee and rubber plantations”. More information.
ASSET‑H&C internship ‘was very rewarding’
Delhi Kalwan has just wrapped up a two-month internship at IECD Vietnam and ASSET‑H&C. On her last day, August 25, she shared what she did (helped the communications team) and what she enjoyed most about her internship. Facebook post.
Planting trees with SPOONS
ASSET‑H&C member SPOONS planted 550 trees around Siem Reap, Cambodia last Sunday (August 28). Partner hotels, NGOs, schools, travel agencies, as well as SPOONS’ trainers and students took part. Facebook post.
News from friends in Europe
WTACH, Nordic Tourism Collective join forces on culture and heritage
Published September 29, 2022: The World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage has teamed up with the Nordic Tourism Collective to build mutual awareness of the unique cultural and heritage assets in the greater Nordic and Baltic region.
Continue reading at “WTACH, Nordic Tourism Collective join forces”.
The importance of good partnerships
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Friends indeed
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Stay healthy, smile, have a good month ahead … And when you travel, remember:
It’s not ‘no’. It’s ‘know’.
Featured image (top of post): Share good news in tourism as you would a bottle of something nice. Image by Elle Hughes (CC0) via Unsplash.
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