Sustainability has been the buzzword in development circles. We have the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals that Pacific member countries have adopted and are working diligently towards. Recognising the potential of tourism to advance these, the UN General Assembly has designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
EuroVelo, a project of the European Cyclists´ Federation which comprises a network of 15 long distance cycle routes that connect the European continent, is launching a new, improved cycling map. Following the success of the previous edition, the 2017 map will be the main promotional tool for the network over the coming years.
UNWTO recently hailed Kerala’s award-winning ‘Responsible Tourism’ initiatives terming it as a model for other destinations to replicate. The world’s foremost international tourism organisation also called for the development of closer ties between Kerala Tourism and UNWTO.
There appears to be increasing tension between tourists and residents around the world, with the former often blamed for behaving inappropriately and disturbing locals. Protests against tourist behaviour have erupted in Barcelona, Venice and Hong Kong.
In a world increasingly marked by greed and strife, some companies are notable for the good they do. These companies have chosen to embody the credo: Be the change you want to see in the world.
