Two important responsible tourism anniversaries, 20 years of responsible tourism and 10 years of World Responsible Tourism Days, are going to be commemorated by World Travel Market London 2016 which is scheduled to be held from November 7-9.
The event will discuss how much the travel industry has grasped responsible tourism, what has changed in the last 20 years in tourism and will also talk about future projects.
The South African Government’s 1996 white paper; The Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa is considered to be the first writing on responsible tourism. The white paper explored the options of tourism in post-apartheid Africa and suggested that responsible tourism should be given more emphasis to strengthen the sector. It stresses on sustainable tourism, and at the same it gives enough importance to the protection of natural resources. It also took care of the advantages that citizens could get from the increase in tourism. Also, it signifies the importance of tourists respecting the culture and environment of the country they visit.
Moreover in 2007 WTM London re-launched its Environmental Awareness Day as World Responsible Tourism Day, in order to broaden the scope of the programme. WRTD is right now the world’s largest tourism related programme. Around 2000 delegates attend the event at which will take place this year on Tuesday 8 November, is now the largest day of responsible tourism action in the world. Nearly 2,000 delegates attend the responsible tourism program at WTM London, managed by Manchester University Responsible Tourism Professor Harold Goodwin.
World Travel Market London is one of the most recognised programmes for the tourism industry. For three days, it is like an exhibition of what is going on in the travel and tourism sector. Be it government ministers, or press or travel industry professionals, every year, around 50,000 of them join this event.
