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T<\/span>ues Nov 8 is an important date for Americans \u2013 the federal election will determine our new president. Meanwhile, across the pond in London, it\u2019s also a big day for the global tourism community. Nov 8 will mark the 10th annual World Responsible Tourism Day, celebrated as part of World Travel Market (WTM), one of the biggest annual trade shows of the industry.<\/p>\n At face value, the WTM trade show looks a lot like \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d. In a huge conference center, reps from big-name travel brands network with public tourism boards and deep-pocketed destination marketing organizations (DMOs, in travel-speak). Execs strike deals. Thought leaders deliver keynotes. PR agents pitch puff pieces to the travel media elite. Costumed \u201cMayans\u201d from the Guatemala booth and \u201cCarnival\u201d dancers from the Brazil booth parade around the corporate suits in a charade of authenticity.<\/p>\n But tourism \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d is broken.<\/p>\n Only a fraction of tourism dollars reach the destinations themselves. The quality of service jobs created for locals is low. Overcrowding degrades the travel experience. Tension flares up between hosts and visitors. Biodiversity suffers. Climate change alters destinations. These are just few of the challenges we face as the runaway global travel industry speeds up to 2 billion annual tourists spending $2 trillion yearly by 2030.\u00b9<\/a><\/p>\n Take a deeper look at the WTM and, fortunately, you\u2019ll also find a group that faces these challenges head-on. They organise the Responsible Tourism Day events. I\u2019ll be spending Nov 8 at the WTM learning and celebrating on that bright side of the trade show. Here are a few highlights from the World Responsible Tourism Day schedule that I\u2019m looking forward to:<\/p>\n