World Travel Market Readies Responsible Tourism Day

Launching WTM World Responsible Tourism Day 2010 (Nov. 10), held in association with the UNWTO, Fiona Jeffery, chairman of World Travel Market, said, “As travel and tourism considers the disastrous impact of the oil slick creeping relentlessly towards the Gulf Coast, it demonstrates just how exposed the industry is to the actions of mankind.

While most of us are powerless to stop such terrible catastrophes potentially wiping out hundreds of wildlife species, it illustrates more vividly than any words the importance of everyone working in travel and tourism making a contribution to responsible tourism where ever they are in the world. This is the crucial and increasingly urgent message behind WTM World Responsible Tourism Day.”

On Nov. 10, thousands of delegates in London and others across the world will mark the day of action with special events, press conferences, trade fairs, sporting fixtures and family entertainment.

WTM World Responsible Tourism Day is an opportunity to show consumers, governments, companies and organizations just what can be done to make a positive contribution. A schedule of speeches, debates, interviews, presentations and workshops featuring some of the industry’s private and public sector leaders and global environmental experts is planned.

Although there will also be responsible tourism events throughout World Travel Market week, the main events program will be on the Wednesday. The program includes an Opening Ceremony and presentation of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, organized by responsibletravel.com and partnered by Metro Newspaper, Geographical and World Travel Market.

Launch of WTM World Responsible Tourism Day also signals the start of a campaign for companies to apply for approval to use the 2010 WTM WRTD logo. Last year, 150 travel operators and organizations worldwide used the logo on marketing and sales materials as well as gained other publicity and profiling benefits.

Participants will be invited to the WTM WRTD networking reception which last year was attended by more than 300 people, as well as listings in the WTM catalogue, WTM WRTD website and WTM Route Planner. Exhibitors at World Travel Market will also be displaying the logo.