Good news in travel & tourism December 2022 to January 2023
This “Good news in travel & tourism” wraps up two months of “Good Tourism” & “GT” Travel news, insights, and experiences.
Share it as you would nachos …
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- “Good Tourism” Insights
by Kevin Phun | K Michael Haywood | Zohreh Khosravi | Megan Epler Wood - “Good Tourism” Insight Bites
Yes, Tourism Minister … | previous - Your comments
Ministerial mandates | Black Sea women | ‘Herculean undertaking’ - Good news from friends
Business travel | Gender equality | Ecotourism | tidbits - Friends indeed
“Good Tourism” doesn’t judge. “GT” publishes.
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.
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:
- From established opinion leaders, to young people with the gumption to try;
- From elite global organisations, to the most modest of micro businesses (like “GT”);
- From the world’s ‘WEIRD’ (western, educated, industrialised, rich, and democratic) nations to the ‘LDCs’ (least developed countries) in the “Global South”;
- From those who love acronyms and categories, to those who despise them;
- From the centre and from the margins.
Just as “Good Tourism” never defines ‘good tourism’, “GT” will never judge anyone who would, in good faith, share their insights, ideas, expertise, experience, and wisdom.
No, “GT” doesn’t judge. “GT” publishes.
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“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:
How can travel & tourism help save heritage sites from climate change?
(Published December 6, 2022)
Travel & tourism and natural and cultural heritage are often interdependent. So how should tourism respond to worries that climate change threatens heritage sites? It’s a “Good Tourism” Insight by Kevin Phun.
Tourism’s thriveability requires performative change: Foundations
(Published December 13, 2022)
What are the basic requirements for tourism destinations to thrive? K Michael Haywood lays them out in this “Good Tourism” Insight.
Tourism’s thriveability requires performative change: The changemakers
(Published December 13, 2022)
If we were to boost tourism destinations’ capacity to thrive, who are the likely changemakers? And what actions might they take? K Michael Haywood offers answers in this “Good Tourism” Insight.
Are developing destinations failing to tap the potential of women in tourism?
(Published January 17, 2023)
And how is Iran involving women in tourism to help develop its enormous potential as a travel destination? Zohreh Khosravi offers answers in her “Good Tourism” Insight.
How can we change sustainable tourism destination management for good?
(Published January 24, 2023)
To create a more sustainable tourism industry, destination managers need to tackle ‘the invisible burden’ that travellers and their enablers impose on people and places. Megan Epler Wood discusses what’s required in this “Good Tourism” Insight.
“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 is the most recent:
Yes, Tourism Minister
(Published January 10, 2023)
You learn that you will be appointed Tourism Minister of your country in January 2023. To help prepare yourself for media interviews, draft a brief summary of your vision for the future of tourism in your nation.
Your correspondent put this hypothetical to a range of travel & tourism stakeholders — “GT” Insight authors, “GT” Partners, and their invitees — and invited emailed written responses of no more than 300 words.
- Karen Simmonds — UK: Tourism ‘for good, creating peace and prosperity’
- Saverio F Bertolucci — Italy: Collaborative marketing, transport, agriculture
- K Michael Haywood — Canada: Tourism as ‘a pathway to hope and happiness’
- Susan Eardly — Sri Lanka: A green and inclusive future for tourism
- Zohreh Khosravi — Iran: Access, ease, income, employment, foreign exchange
- Kevin Phun — Singapore: ‘People are our strength’
- S Fatemeh Mostafavi Shirazi — Iran: ‘Image and reputation are key’
- Jonathon Day — Notes for a new leader
- Issoufou Adamou Hassane — Niger: Tourism a key to ‘Cultural Renaissance’
- What do you think?
Previous “GT” Insight Bites:
- What are tourism’s biggest challenges & threats over the next five years?
- ‘Tourism is built on the backbone of white supremacy’. What do you think?
- Really, what’s the difference? ‘Sustainable tourism’ vs ‘regenerative tourism’
- 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
Your comments
Ministerial mandates
K Michael Haywood disagrees with an assertion that tourism ministers have no real power. In a long comment on “Yes, Tourism Minister”, Prof Haywood writes:
“[T]ourism’s ministerial ‘jobs-to-be-done’ mandate suddenly has become more extensive and essential, more involving and inclusive, more collaborative and all-consuming. […]
“Ensuring these plans get funded and implemented requires maximizing synergies. How? Guess what? Leadership, governance and guidance at the ministerial level will be more indispensable than ever.”
Black Sea women
Commenting on Zohreh Khosravi’s “GT” Insight, “Are developing destinations failing to tap the potential of women in tourism?”, Richard Shepard relates his experience in the Black Sea region where women manage tourism at the local level:
“[T]he tourism sector is subject to political influence and at times, control, where we work and that means by and large, men. This is one reason why we avoid directly interfacing with national tourism authorities because we find we can get more results working locally …”
‘Herculean undertaking’
Convincing the private sector to tackle ‘the invisible burden’ will be a “Herculean undertaking” according to K Michael Haywood who writes in a comment on Megan Epler Wood’s “GT” Insight, “How can we change sustainable tourism destination management for good?”:
“The big task [is] to form coalitions of the committed and resourceful; influencers who have the power, will, and ability to change attitudes and behaviors, and garner the funds [… And influencers who] will be charged with the responsibility to re-imagine capitalism and purpose …”
Good news from friends
Good news in travel & tourism from the wonderful organisations that make “GT” possible. Here is some of what happened recently in the “Good Tourism” network:
Business travel recovery under way in Asia Pacific … but it’s complicated
(Published December 9, 2022)
Business travel in Asia Pacific — and globally — is recovering strongly post-COVID, along with the tourism industry more generally. However, the rebound is complicated by lingering concerns about health and safety (the duty of care employers and travel managers should have to business travellers), as well as ESG (environmental, social, and governance) worries. Delegates heard about this on the first day of the PATA – GBTA APAC Travel Summit 2022 in Bangkok, which yours truly attended.
Unprecedented ‘gender equality’ award to be bestowed at ITB 2023
(Published December 20, 2022)
Equality in Tourism is launching its Award for Commitment to Gender Equality. Dr Stroma Cole and Dr Yasmin Begum discuss the origins and objectives of the Award in this “GT” ‘sponsored post’, which was offered free-of-charge by “GT’s” publisher.
Ecotourism experiences refreshed for 2023 at Anurak Community Lodge, Thailand
(Published January 5, 2023)
Leveraging its stunning location at the edge of the biodiversity hotspot of Khao Sok National Park in Thailand, Anurak Community Lodge is offering its nature-loving guests refreshed ecotourism activities. General Manager Travis Clark reveals what visitors can look forward to in the new year.
Friends’ tidbits
Kevin Phun joins SCRT-SEA committee
Kevin Phun, founder of the Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore (a “GT” Partner), has been confirmed as a committee member for the International Center for Responsible Tourism Southeast Asia (ICRT-SEA). Congratulations Kevin!
SUNx Malta launches KISS4Climate campaign
Calling on all tourism stakeholders to support it, Geoffrey Lipman says funds raised from SUNx Malta’s new KISS4Climate campaign will “help those less fortunate than us [and] encourage SAF-based Climate Friendly Travel for the world’s poorest countries”.
CABI explores the intersection of leisure and health
CABI’s latest book Exploring The Leisure — Health Nexus: Pushing Global Boundaries includes case studies that present leisure and health themes in the context of worldwide “emerging environmental, health and societal challenges”.
ASSET‑H&C supports post-COVID regeneration of member schools
ASSET‑H&C has been funding nine “#regenerate projects” proposed by five members schools to support their recovery after COVID. These include: An Rê Mai Sen (Vietnam); Sala Bai (Cambodia); Bayon Bakery & Coffee Shop (Cambodia); Spoons (Vietnam); and EHT Paul Dubrule (Cambodia).
Red Rocks leverages art and sport for conservation in Rwanda
In Rwanda, the Red Rocks Cultural Centre recognised “the connection between the health of people, animals, and the environment”. Also a Red Rocks Arts Centre exhibition shed light on the history and status of gorilla conservation. Facebook.
Prepare for zero greehouse gas emissions
SUNx Malta: “Our [Climate Friendly Travel] Registry is open to all tourism companies, from transport, hospitality, and travel services to infrastructure providers. Start preparing to support #ClimateAction and be ready for the 2050 Zero GHG”. Twitter.
Watch ‘One Health Rwanda’ on YouTube
Ravenswood Media, an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker, joined the team at Red Rocks to provide basic filmmaking training. The first fruit of the class’ efforts is One Health Rwanda. YouTube.
SUNx, ITS Malta celebrate new CFT graduates
SUNx Malta is proud to announce that 28 students have graduated from its Climate Friendly Travel Diploma delivered in partnership with ITS Malta. Facebook.
Planet Happiness tapped by Cornell University
Planet Happiness will be represented by a guest speaker on Cornell University’s new self-paced online (eCornell) Sustainable Tourism Destination Management course.
Mini-pods recorded at ASSET‑H&C’s ‘The World Café’
An informal sharing activity called “The World Café” took place at ASSET‑H&C’s recent annual seminar. Participants were invited to record mini-podcasts about any topic that they thought needed attention: Social business, team building, digital learning, fund raising, etc … Facebook.
The importance of good partnerships
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Friends indeed
“Friends indeed” are worthy travel & tourism industry fundraisers and charitable causes that are associated with or suggested by “GT” Partners and friends. Please help them if you can. Share the page with your networks. And link to it from your website.
Stay healthy, smile, have a good month ahead … And when you travel, remember:
It’s not ‘no’. It’s ‘know’.
Gotta go? Then go!
If you’ve time, go slow
If you don’t, try low
Do what you know is good
And know there is more to know
Featured image (top of post): Nachos image by Herson Rodriguez (CC0) via Unsplash.
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