REPORT - LONDON - WTM 2007: Polar explorer Pen Hadow warned that travel and tourism had to plant its footprint all over the global warming landscape before it disappeared down a black hole. Hadow, 45, who is off on a major expedition to the Arctic next February, said that World Travel Market’s first ever World Responsible Tourism Day, opened at ExCeL London Wednesday (14 November 2007) was of colossal significance.

 

“This global initiative, in association with UNWTO, is one that I am proud to open,” he said.

“I think today (14 Novmber 2007) is of colossal significance. What we do here within this industry has implications and value way beyond travel and tourism.”

“I can’t help thinking what I am doing here is contributing to the launch of the biggest expedition in history. It is the most important in history.”

The major international business event for travel and tourism is leading the industry to become more aware of responsible tourism by acting now.

“Sometimes the destination seems so very far away. I know that having made journeys to the North and South Pole. The first few days, the first few steps are so unbearably hard. You seem to be making such a tiny amount of progress towards that goal,” pointed Hadow.

“And at the current rate, are we going to get there as a team. You have to believe that it is all about taking the footsteps.”

“We all know that however big or small the journey, ultimately it is about putting one foot in front of the other repeatedly. And in a way that is all we have got to do. I think WTM World Responsible Tourism Day is about one of the biggest industries in the world coming together and committing totally and absolutely to this journey and recognising it is the journey of our lives. It is not just about reaching the destination.”

“But they are made up of individuals - you and me. There are no excuses. You can’t blame the business. We have to start taking those footsteps. I know there are those making major strides. But this is about committing as an industry.”

“We are going to show what we are made of. And we are going together - and if we don’t, you know the consequences.”

He went on to say “Human activity is driving the global warming process. The average thickness of the Arctic Ocean’s ice cap is just three metres thick; 40 years ago it was thought to be four metres. You can begin to see how delicately balanced this physical feature is.”

“This is one of the planet’s defining physical features and it going to go - and we are the cause.”

“Ice caps, Antarctica and the North Pole ice cap in particular, they provide three services to us. They are archives of climates of the past; they are regulators of our climate today and they also provide an early warning system. Whatever has already happened, there is an indicator of what is definitely going to be happening elsewhere. And it could have a super-tanker effect. There is more to come even if we put on the brakes now.”

“The planet is trying to tell us something. The Poles in particular are screaming at us.”

Hadow is spearheading what has been described as the most important expedition of a generation to accurately assess the date when the polar ice will melt. Currently scientists have predicted anything between 16 years and 100 years.