The International Responsible Tourism Conference will be held from 21 March to 24 March, 2008, at the Le Meridien International Convention Centre, Kochi. It is organised by Kerala Tourism, in association with the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (India) and India Tourism.
The conference’s main objective is to create awareness amongst operators, hoteliers, governments, local people and tourists and to thereby, take steps to make tourism more sustainable. Nearly 400 delegates will attend the conference. Speakers from 20 countries, which include the UK, Germany, Gambia, South Africa, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, will discuss a wide range of topics. Subjects include local economic development and poverty reduction, taking responsibility for destination sustainability, travel philanthropy and the role of government, both national and local.
The conference will be co-chaired by V Venu, Secretary, Kerala Tourism and Prof Harold Goodwin, Director International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) at Leeds Metropolitan University. According Venu, the conference will be a platform to learn about achievements in ‘responsible tourism’, worldwide. Harsh Varma, Director of Development Assistance, UNWTO; Fiona Jeffrey, Chairman, World Travel Mart; Renton de Alwis, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourism Board and Hiran Cooray, Secretary and Treasurer of PATA will participate in the conference, as well.
Delegates will visit various locales in Kerala including home stays, heritage areas and farms and local entrepreneurs. These will be modelled as responsible tourism practices. Kumbalangi, Fort Kochi, Kumarakom and Mattancherry, among others, will be showcased as well.
The first edition of the conference was held in Capetown, South Africa, in 2002.
Friday, March 07, 2008