Good news in travel & tourism June-July 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 a cake … or would you!?
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- “Good Tourism” Insights
about Mass ecotourism | ‘parkrun tourism’ | Ocean regeneration | Scottish transport | Luxury agritourism - “Good Tourism” Insight Bites
about ‘Who’s the new boss?’ | previous - Your comments
about Sustainability awards in long-haul destinations | Language skills | Mass ecotourism | Scottish transport | Agritourism - Good news from friends
about Peak greenhouse gases | Culture & heritage summit | Climate resilience | Rwandan cultural festival | 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)?
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- From established opinion leaders in academia and industry, to young people with the gumption to express themselves;
- 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 adore acronyms and categories, to those who despise them ;-))
- From the centre and from the margins.
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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:
Ecotourism for the masses, not the elite classes!
Sudipta K Sarkar June 6, 2023
‘Ecotourism for the masses, not the elite classes!’ is a slogan you’re unlikely to hear at a protest any time soon. Sudipta Sarkar argues for an urban ecotourism for the masses that looks far beyond Western debates for inspiration. It’s a “Good Tourism” Insight initiated by Tourism’s Horizon, a “GT” Insight Partner.
Read ‘Ecotourism for the masses, not the elite classes!’
‘parkrun tourism’: A tonic for our times
Hannah Dalton June 27, 2023
It is generally considered healthy to socialise with others and to exercise outdoors; activities that some jurisdictions deemed problematic during pandemic lockdowns. Combining those activities is parkrunning.
Hannah Dalton investigates the potential of parkrun and parkrun tourism to (re)build social capital both at home and away. It’s a “Good Tourism” Insight initiated by Tourism’s Horizon, a “GT” Insight Partner.
Read ‘‘parkrun tourism’: A tonic for our times’
Souvenirs: Can three pieces of coral inspire tourism towards ocean regeneration?
K Michael Haywood July 4, 2023
Three pieces of coral, and the memories they evoke, inspire K Michael Haywood to consider how travel & tourism stakeholders might contribute to ocean regeneration.
‘Souvenirs: Can three pieces of coral inspire tourism towards ocean regeneration?’
Mountain biking in Scotland? Not if you’re dependent on public transport
Alastair Naughton July 11, 2023
Scotland’s tourism authorities have been keeping global stakeholders happy by declaring ‘climate emergency’ and planning ‘transformational tourism’, but have they lost touch with Scots?
In his first “Good Tourism” Insight, Alastair Naughton questioned the poor accessibility of Scottish ski resorts. In this “GT” Insight he wonders why public transport is making it more difficult to go mountain biking in Scotland.
Read ‘Mountain biking in Scotland? Not if you’re dependent on public transport’
From subsistence to something special: The rise of luxury agritourism
Stefania Fren July 18, 2023
Most farmers throughout history have struggled to survive let alone thrive. This remains the case in many places. That’s why the opportunity to earn supplemental income from agritourism is very appealing to many farmers.
Now, while agritourism continues to grow, the concept of ‘luxury’ is evolving to include an appreciation of local authenticity. Could the world’s traditional agriculturists be sitting on a luxury agritourism gold mine?
It’s a “Good Tourism” Insight by Stefania Fren.
Read ‘From subsistence to something special: The rise of luxury agritourism’
“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:
Who’s the new boss? Asia Pacific tourism industry association seeks leader
June 13, 2023
A long-established Asia Pacific regional travel & tourism industry association comprising public and private sector members is seeking a new executive leader.
What specific priorities and competencies should the ideal candidate have?
Your correspondent put this (hypothetical?) scenario and question to “GT’s” diverse network of travel & tourism stakeholders — “GT” Insight authors, “GT” Partners, and their invitees — and requested written responses of no more than 300 words.
Click/touch a name to go to their answer:
- Peter Richards — Pragmatic priorities: People, planet, pocket
- Saverio Francesco Bertolucci — ‘Strength, transparency, and audacity’
- Wolfgang Georg Arlt — Prioritise membership, China, and visibility
- Steve Noakes — ‘Have a tender heart and a tough hide’
- Zohreh Khosravi — Advocacy founded on knowledge and teamwork
What AI ‘thinks’:
- ChatGPT — Understanding, leadership, commitment, and drive
- Bard — Leadership, communication, planning, collaboration, etc …
More importantly:
Previous “GT” Insight Bites
- ‘The hospitality industry offers a great career.’ Really?
- Cruise ships: Blessing or blight?
- Tourist vs traveller: What’s the difference?
- The heads of finance, operations, and PR walk into their boss’s office …
- Yes, Tourism Minister
- 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
Do sustainability awards in long-haul destinations make sense?
June 22, 2023
There is nuance to be found in the awkward tension between sustainability, long-haul travel, and the best intentions of travel & tourism stakeholders.
By direct reply to a “GT” newsletter, Richard Butler wondered why sustainability awards are given to stakeholders in destinations that rely upon long-haul air travel.
“GT” invited responses.
Read ‘Do sustainability awards in long-haul destinations make sense?’
Language skills in tourism
Kevin Palmquist commented via Substack on a “GT” Insight by Karen Thomas and Jim Butcher about language skills in tourism and why native English speakers should make an effort to learn them:
Kevin writes: “I agree with the sentiment, although there is a measure of practicality that needs to be considered. [… F]or a native English speaker, deciding on a second language is not such a clear undertaking.”
Your correspondent’s first thought is that one’s choice of second language(s) can be determined pragmatically: Which source and/or destination market(s) does one operate in currently? Which market(s) is one likely to serve in the future?
What do you think?
Substack, by the way, is among a number of places in cyberspace to which “Good Tourism” shares teasers and links to the insights and inspiration of its guest authors, friends, and Partners.
Subscribing to “GT’s” Substack is recommended for readers who wish to be notified as soon as new content is published rather than waiting for the ~weekly newsetter or stumbling across posts in social media.
There is also scope for commentary and debate on Substack.
Ecotourism for the masses?
“Excellent approach joining mass tourism with eco tourism,” writes Simpson on Sudipta K Sarkar’s ‘Ecotourism for the masses, not the elite classes!’.
“Some of these ideas can be found in the early youth hostel movement which has roots which also can be traced back to the arts and crafts movement. The links are most obvious in the youth hostel aspiration to link urban areas with nature in nearby areas.”
Jim Butcher wrote: “Sudipta makes a great point (or two) here. Ecotourism advocacy has long involved a coded, or overt, critique of mass tourism. But parallel to this is a discussion about how we benefit from getting out into nature, and how too many are denied access to this. These are some great thoughts on squaring the circle.”
Does Scotland have a public transport problem?
“A worthwhile rant. Rant on!” writes Jim Butcher on Alastair Naughton’s ‘Mountain biking in Scotland? Not if you’re dependent on public transport’. “This is a practical proposition that benefits access directly.”
Agritourism attention
“Good to see this kind of tourism getting attention,” writes Simpson on Stefania Fren’s ‘From subsistence to something special: The rise of luxury agritourism’.
“It’s been around for so long in so many places. Youth hostels in 1930s Britain often based themselves in surplus agricultural buildings, sometimes run by farm families.”
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:
No apologies: ‘eXistential’ climate change and peak GHG emissions 2025 are not advocacy issues. Travel & tourism must act now!
Geoffrey Lipman June 5, 2023
We at SUNx Malta make no apologies for pushing the existential imperative of achieving peak greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2025. The ‘x’ in our name means ‘eXistential’. Existential is not an advocacy issue.
On World Environment Day, June 5, we are again reaching out to the leadership of the travel & tourism sector to act on the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report (Sixth Assessment Report) …
New leaders’ summit on culture & heritage in tourism
June 28, 2023
A dynamic new leadership summit will grapple with the major challenges and opportunities of culture and heritage in tourism.
Event organiser, the World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage (WTACH), a “Good Tourism” Insight Partner, invites stakeholders to make their voices heard at the inaugural WTACH Global Leaders Summit which will take place in Valencia, Spain, September 24 – 25, 2023.
Read ‘New leaders’ summit on culture & heritage in tourism’
Is there a link between tourism’s resilience and adaptability to climate change?
July 14, 2023
Tourism destinations and attractions should think about how to increase resilience so that climate adaptation has a higher chance of succeeding, according to Kevin Phun, founder of the Centre for Responsible Tourism Singapore (CRTS), a “GT” Partner.
“The call to increase resilience in tourism to enable adaptation in more places is surely getting louder,” Mr Phun said. Read ‘Is there a link between tourism’s resilience and adaptability to climate change?’
You are invited to Rwanda for the 11th Red Rocks Cultural Festival 2023
July 25, 2023
As the Red Rocks Cultural Festival 2023 approaches, all eyes turn to Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills, cultural wonders, and warm hospitality.
Now in its 11th year, this extraordinary festival offers a glimpse into the soul of the country; promoting cultural heritage, community conservation, and empowerment.
Read ‘You are invited to Rwanda for the 11th Red Rocks Cultural Festival 2023′
Partner news tidbits
News tidbits from “GT” Partners that appeared in recent editions of the “GT” newsletter.
The World Tourism Association for Culture and Heritage (WTACH) invites stakeholders to make their voices heard at the inaugural WTACH Global Leaders Summit to take place in Valencia, Spain, September 24 – 25, 2023.
The Association of Southeast Asian Social Enterprises for Training in Hospitality & Catering (ASSET‑H&C) is looking for partners for two programmes: ‘PROF – Training of Trainer’ (PDF) and ‘CareerFocus’ (PDF).
The ASSET‑H&C are “beyond grateful to receive a generous donation from [“GT” Partner] EXO Foundation for our new initiative CareerFocus”. “The donation will help us launch the program, and directly benefit our member schools in supporting students’ professional orientation and integration.” More on Facebook.
There are important “GT” Partner events coming up:
- 11th Red Rocks Cultural Festival, Twataramye, Rwanda, August 25 — September 1
- World Tourism Association for Culture & Heritage (WTACH) Global Leaders Summit, Valencia, Spain, September 24 – 25
- EXO Foundation Sustainability Awards to be announced in September
Want to list your event and share your news, ideas, insights, and inspiration? Consider “GT” Partnership. It doesn’t cost the Earth.
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 time … 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): Share ‘Good news in travel & tourism June-July 2023’ as you would a cake … or would you!? Image by SwapnIl Dwivedi (CC0) via Unsplash.
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