REPORT - LONDON - WTM 2007: That’s the view of Fiona Jeffery, Chairman of World Travel Market, the leading international business event taking place at London ExCeL this week. “It’s not good enough simply leaving responsible tourism concerns to the industry and hoping that the world’s travel and climate problems will go away.
Consumers have to be setting the agenda, playing a bigger part by voting with their wallets.”

 

“It is the future of their children and grandchildren we are talking about now. Are they going to jeopardise that for two or three reckless weeks of holiday with a company which has no interest in sustainable tourism or indeed the local communities that are so often exploited and ignored?”

Jeffery was speaking (Wednesday 14 November 07) ahead of the launch of WTM’s World Responsible Tourism Day, the most ambitious worldwide project ever undertaken.

Polar explorer Pen Hadow, opens this major global initiative in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Hadow is preparing to lead the most important scientific endeavour of a generation to assess the precise date when the Polar ice cap will melt.

More than 100 Government Ministers from around the world met at World Travel Market yesterday (Tuesday) at a Summit on Tourism and Climate Change to sign up to a Declaration to be presented to the UN in December.

“There is no industry in the world better placed to explore key matters such as carbon offsetting, poverty reduction and water conservation”, added Jeffery.

“British travellers I am glad to say are becoming more discerning about how and where they travel.”

“They care more and more about their carbon footprint and they are looking for more authentic and less damaging travel.”

“It is the crucial role of the industry to protect the very destinations and environment it seeks to promote and deliver holidays that match consumer demands and expectations.”